President Nguyen Xuan Phuc took this occasion to extend his sincere greetings and wishes for a happy new year, to the delegates and Overseas Vietnamese, who are living, working and studying abroad.

President Phuc said Vietnamese expatriates always remain a part of the nation regardless of their places of residence, whether in Vietnam or abroad, as we are descendants of the same ancestors.
 

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and overseas Vietnamese offer incense at Hanoi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and overseas Vietnamese at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA President Nguyen Xuan Phuc talks with overseas Vietnamese. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA President Nguyen Xuan Phuc beats a drum to open the program. Photo: Lam Khanh / VNA President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse, leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front and overseas Vietnamese at the programme. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA   President Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Dr. Philipp Rosler, Vietnam’s first Honorary Consul to Switzerland. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA

According to the President, despite numerous challenges in 2021, but thanks to the national great unity of all Vietnamese, either in Vietnam or abroad, either from the central or the grassroots level, Vietnam has embarked on the dual mission of adapting to the COVID-19 and maintaining stability, which resulted in a positive economic growth.

He went on to say that the Vietnamese community abroad has played an important role in the country, making remarkable achievements last year.

The OVs’ accumulative remittance for the last year continued to grow, reaching nearly US$14 billion. It was a valuable source for the national GDP growth of 2.58% in 2021 amid the global economic slowdown. Trade turnover reached nearly $670 billion, an increase of 22.6%, making Vietnam one of the top 20 economies in international trade.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomes the OVs joining the Xuan Que huong program. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the event. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and overseas Vietnamese. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents gifts to overseas Vietnamese attending the Homeland Spring progamme. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA

The president regretted the few comebacks of overseas Vietnamese on this Lunar New Year festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that Vietnam brought home nearly 120,000 citizens in 600 flights throughout the last year.

Delegates and overseas Vietnamese releases carps into Uncle Ho’s fish pond at the Presidential Palace's relic site. Photo: VNA The Vietnamese Embassy in Washington DC on January 21 organized the online program "Homeland Spring" to welcome the lunar New Year of Tiger in 2022 with the participation of around 150 guests including overseas Vietnamese and friends of Vietnam in the US and worldwide. Photo: VNA  The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy hosts the Homeland Spring 2022 programme. Photo: VNA In Moscow, representatives of the Vietnamese embassy and Vietnamese community in Russia take part in the “Homeland’s Spring” prorgamme via videoconference. Photo: VNA

President Phuc said despite being seriously affected by the pandemic, the nation has still maintained economic and social stability. The country is one of the six countries with the highest vaccination coverage in the world.

“The government understands, shares your concern and holds the responsibility for repatriating overseas Vietnamese home, and we are trying to ensure your way home will be closer,”  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressed the “Xuan Que huong” (Homeland Spring) programme 2022

President Phuc stressed the initial success of the vaccine diplomacy was thanked partly to the overseas Vietnamese who launched a money-raising campaign for the Vaccination Fund as well as sent home necessary medical equipment and drugs.

Around 5.3 million Vietnamese people are living, studying and working in 130 countries and territories. Roughly 4.3 million among them are long-term residents.