Vietnam Sets New Policy to Engage Overseas Vietnamese in National Development

The Communist Party of Vietnam's Politburo has adopted Resolution 23-NQ/TW, marking a new policy approach toward overseas Vietnamese (OV) affairs. This resolution aims to foster their contributions to national development and support the preservation of their identity, adapting to the rapid evolution of the OV community over the past two decades since the Politburo’s Resolution 36-NQ/TW issued on March 26, 2004. Dr. Do Xuan Hoang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Organisations in Russia, described the new resolution as "timely and more comprehensive," better aligning with the community's evolution. This suggests a move towards actively leveraging the skills, knowledge, and networks of OVs for Vietnam's economic growth and societal advancement. The Vietnamese government places significant importance on strengthening ties with its diaspora, recognizing their potential to bolster economic growth, drive technological innovation, and enhance Vietnam's international standing. The resolution is expected to open new avenues for OVs to contribute to Vietnam's development while also supporting their efforts to maintain and pass on Vietnamese culture, language, and identity. This initiative can be seen as a strategic effort within Vietnam's one-party system to integrate its citizens and promote national development concurrently. In the context of its foreign relations, particularly with China, where Vietnam navigates economic ties while managing geopolitical risks, strengthening connections with its overseas community can be viewed as a strategy to safeguard national interests from multiple angles.