Socialist Republic of Vietnam

President Nguyen Minh Triet affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese community has played a decisive factor in the country's successes in the past decades at a get-together held in Ha Noi on Feb. 9 for over 1,000 Vietnamese expats who have returned home for family reunions during the traditional new year festival (Tet).

"The State will decide on visa exemption for Vietnamese holding foreign passports as soon as possible in order to facilitate their visits to the homeland," President Triet said, stating that the Party and State appreciate overseas Vietnamese's contributions to their homeland.

He added that Viet Nam always welcomes expats to join hands in building a strong country with prosperous people and an equitable, democratic and civilised society, regardless of the excuses behind their departure, their ethnicity, religious beliefs, social status, and further personal history.

On behalf of the overseas Vietnamese community, Nguyen Xuan Oanh, who is residing in Thailand, expressed wishes to make greater contributions to national development.

On this occasion, President Triet presented the Independence Order, first class, to the overseas Vietnamese community in Thailand for its contribution to national defence.

The Foreign Ministry honoured Ms. Le Phan Hoai Bich from Australia, Mr. Tran Van Dang from the Czech Republic, Mr. Phuong Thuc Tai from the US, Mr. Nguyen Dang Hung from Belgium, and Mr. Bui Van Tuyen from France for their efforts to promote a sense of community with their adopted countries and their homeland.

The get-together, called "Homeland Spring", jointly organised by the Foreign Ministry's Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Viet Nam Television, is held annually.

The Committee for Overseas Vietnamese estimated that some 150,000 Vietnamese expats will come home for Tet, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent.-Enditem

VNA