Border guard forces arrest Lao drug smuggler in Nghe An

The drugs seized in the case (Photo: baonghean.vn)

Forces of the Border Guard High Command and the Border Guard of the central province of Nghe An arrested a Lao citizen transporting 50,000 meth pills and 6kg of crystal meth into Vietnam on December 27.

Tho No Bi, 36, a resident in the Lao province of Houaphan’s Xam Tay district, was caught red handed in Muong Phu village’s border area in Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district.

The suspect admitted that he was smuggling the drugs from Laos into to Vietnam for distribution. The case is under further investigation.

Vietnam and Laos share a borderline of nearly 2,340 km that runs across through 10 Vietnamese provinces, namely Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, and Kon Tum. 

The line also appears in 10 Lao provinces - Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Houaphan, Bolykhamsay, Khammoune, Savannakhet, Salavan, Xiengkhouang, Sepon, and Attapeu.

This borderline is among the hot spots of drug trafficking, with traffickers being mainly ethnic minority people.

Overseas Vietnamese contribute to national development, integration

As many as 200 delegates representing overseas Vietnamese from 28 countries gathered at a conference in the central province of Nghe An on December 27 to discuss connections between them and localities in the homeland (Source: VOV)

There are nearly 3,000 overseas Vietnamese (OV)-owned businesses with total registered capital of about 4 billion USD in 2018, heard a conference to connect OVs and localities in the central province of Nghe An on December 27.

Many OVs have returned home to do business, especially in major cities and provinces like Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and Can Tho.

Most of their investment projects focus on the fields of processing, manufacturing, trade, tourism, construction, goods production for exports, cultivation, and software technology, contributing to job generation and vocational training in localities.

Apart from implementing investment projects, OV businesses have become a bridge to connect Vietnam with other countries and territories. A lot of OV entrepreneurs have brought Vietnamese goods to foreign markets.

Tran Dang Hue, a member of the Vietnamese business association in Sydney, shared experience to link Vietnamese firms with the Australian market and vice versa. 

He said many OVs are settling and working for major groups and companies as well as governmental agencies in Australia. They play the role as a bridge in promoting trade between Vietnam and Australia, he added.

Hue suggested the Government put forth more preferential policies for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries’ businesses.

Localities should regularly hold meetings to introduce their potential and key projects while setting up connections with prestigious trade and investment promotion individuals and companies in Australia.

Dinh Kim Nguyet, chairwoman of the Vietnamese people association in Vancouver, Canada, shared experience in attracting international tourists.

She suggested building cultural tourism villages and developing tourism in seaport areas. 

Le Ngoc Thach, an OV from Canada, said with abundant natural resources and flexible investment policies, Nghe An has been drawing a large number of domestic and foreign projects.

However, to go further, the province should pay attention to developing hi-tech agriculture in aquaculture and organic agriculture.

On the occasion, the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese introduced to public its chapter in the north central and central coastal region.

There are approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese living and working in over 110 countries and territories worldwide.

Former officials of Dong A Bank prosecuted again

Former General Director of the Dong A Bank (DAB) Tran Phuong Binh 

The Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security said on December 27 that it has started criminal proceedings against 10 defendants, including former General Director of the Dong A Bank (DAB) Tran Phuong Binh and former DAB Deputy General Director Nguyen Thi Ngoc Van.

Binh and Van, together with eight other defendants, are prosecuted for violating regulations on banking activities and other activities related to banking operations under Article 206 of the Criminal Code 2015.

These are the results of the second phase of the investigation into wrongdoings at the bank.

After receiving the approval from the People’s Supreme Procuracy, on December 25, 2018, the agency implemented prosecution decisions and search warrants against the 10 defendants. They are also prohibited from leaving their residences.

Earlier, Binh was sentenced to life in prison by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on December 20 in the trial of 26 defendants who were involved in the loss of over 3.6 trillion VND (153.47 million USD) at the bank.

The judging council concluded that as General Director, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chairman of the credit council of the Dong A Bank (DAB), Binh initiated the idea and directly instructed his subordinates to arrange for staff members and their relatives to conduct illegal activities, causing losses of nearly 3.6 trillion VND to the DAB. Binh himself pocketed more than 2 trillion VND and instructed his subordinates to disburse more than 1.56 trillion VND in violations of rules. 

The judges gave him 20 years in prison for “deliberately violating the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences” and life in prison for “abusing position and power to appropriate assets”, resulting in a combined punishment of life imprisonment. 

An active accomplice of Tran Phuong Binh, former Deputy General Director of DAB Tran Thi Kim Xuyen caused losses of nearly 1.1 trillion VND and appropriated 40 billion VND for personal use. She was given 30 years in prison on two charges of “deliberately violating the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences” and “abusing position and power to appropriate assets”.

Phan Van Anh Vu (alias Vu “nhom”), who was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bac Nam 79 Construction JSC), was also an accomplice of Binh in appropriating 203 billion VND of the DAB. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for “abusing position and power to appropriate assets”. In combination with an 8-year sentence for him for “deliberately disclosing state secrets” in another case, Vu will have to serve 25 years in prison. 

Other defendants were given imprisonment terms ranging from 2-years suspended sentence to 16 years. The defendants were also order to pay compensations to the DAB.

Vietnam improves HIV care and support services

Despite recent achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, negative public connotations surrounding the illness persist, making it hard to increase work in prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The emergence of numerous clinics specialising in HIV treatment and prevention recently has built up confidence among HIV carriers, as well as the vulnerable groups with high risk of infection.

This young fellow is a familiar client of Glink clinic in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, a venue for HIV treatment, prevention and consultation that specifically serves the LGBT community. 

According to recent studies, those in the LGBT community hold high chances of HIV infection, accounting for 20 percent of high-risk group. Therefore, early detection plays an important role in HIV prevention and treatment, as well as avoidance of HIV spreading among the community.

Apart from increasing confidence among vulnerable people, such clinics have contributed to the prevention of HIV by creating a friendly and open environment for high-risk groups. 

Community activist groups, volunteers, peers, and community health workers have done an admirable job in connecting the health sector with vulnerable groups, greatly contributing to the HIV prevention programme. 

Community activist groups have done significant work in helping HIV carriers break through barriers of negativity and inferiority, therefore greatly contributing to society.

Đà Nẵng police bust online gambling ring

Police in Đà Nẵng City detained more than a dozen people, including seven Chinese nationals, for involvement in an online gambling ring. — Illustration Photo

Police in Sơn Trà District, Đà Nẵng City on Wednesday reported they were expanding investigations into an online gambling ring that was busted recently.

Thirteen people, including seven Chinese nationals and six Vietnamese, have been detained for organising gambling worth VNĐ5 billion (US$271,390), zing.vn reported.

On December 19, local police raided two houses on Dương Văn Nga Street in Nại Hiên Đông Ward and found many Chinese staying there.

Police searched the houses and seized 11 passports, 99 mobile phones and 27 laptops.

The group rented the houses from local residents.

Sơn Trà District police determined that gamblers were mostly Chinese people and gambled on websites http://6u2q.cn; http://tyc345.cc, http://xilefucai.com, Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper reported. 

Oil spill causing headaches

Quảng Hưng Ward is quieter than usual because local people stay at home to avoid the smell of oil everywhere. — Photo vov.vn

Residents living in Quang Hưng Ward in Thanh Hóa City of Thanh Hóa Province have been facing health problems due to a 4,000-litre oil spill that occurred 10 days ago, reported online newspaper vov.vn.

The spill has been blamed on a petroleum depot located in Lễ Môn Port, Thanh Hóa City, 4km from the city. The oil reached the affected area via the sewage system, which flowed into the ward.

The petroleum depot is owned by Thanh Hóa Port Joint Stock Company.

According to the ward’s health clinic, about 10 people had to get medical check-ups in local healthcare clinics with symptoms of cough, headaches and shortness of breath.

Dr Doãn Ngọc Hải, head of the Vocational and Environmental Health Institute, told the newspaper: “If the local people would not be evacuated from the oil spill-hit areas, they would easily get respiratory diseases”.

Although the local government has been working to limit consequences of the incident, people’s lives have been seriously affected.

Sixty households and 5ha of paddy fields in section 5 of Quảng Hưng Ward was directly affected by the incident.

Water in paddy fields and canals has become black with an oily and stinky smell which gave people headaches and shortness of breath.

Lưu Thị Lụa, 65, said that she got headaches and felt nauseous after the incident, despite being given medication.

The ward has become quiet because all households keep their doors closed all day to avoid the smell.

Many people with symptoms have gone to the ward’s clinic for examining and some of them with severe problems were hospitalised in the city, said a health worker.

Several families moved their elder relatives and children out of the areas.

Trần Thanh Hà, a Quảng Hưng Ward resident, said people had asked authorities to handle the incident. 

Huế receives smart rubbish bins from Bridgestone

Smart rubbish bins provided by tyre manufacturer Bridgestone. 

Huế City in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế received 20 smart rubbish bins from tyre manufacturer Bridgestone on Monday.

Bridgestone gave the bins to the local Department of Tourism for the use in the city’s busy public places and tourist sites.

The bins have capacity of 120 litres each and have separate boxes to facilitate waste sorting. Four of the 20 bins are powered by solar energy and they make various sound and light signals to alert users when they are full.

According to Nguyễn Văn Phúc, the department’s deputy director, the bins will encourage visitors and locals to dump waste in the appropriate place, thereby reducing litter in places with frequent crowds.

In September last year, Bridgestone gave the Huế Monument Conservation Centre similar bins to help collect waste inside the former Nguyễn Dynasty (1802-1945) royal palace.

Local authorities have yet to issue penalties for littering, and education on the topic is not widespread. 

Cambodian minister praises outgoing VNA bureau chief

Cambodian Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith (right) presents a letter of thanks to the outgoing head of the VNA Cambodia bureau Trần Chí Hùng. 

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Bureau in Cambodia has become a prestigious news agency in the eyes of Cambodian readers and serves as a bridge between the Cambodian Ministry of Information and other news agencies.

Minister of Information of Cambodia Khieu Kanharith made the statement while receiving outgoing head of the VNA Bureau in Cambodia Trần Chí Hùng and the new bureau chief Trần Ngọc Long in Phnom Penh on Monday.

The bureau was established in January, 1979, as one of the first foreign news agency offices in Cambodia.  

At the reception, the ministry presented Hùng with a letter, expressing thanks and praise for his contributions during his working time in Cambodia for nearly 30 years, particularly in reporting information relating to the development of Cambodian to the public and contributing to improving friendship and mutual support between Cambodia and Việt Nam and between people of the two countries.

Hùng was presented with the Medal of Merit in 2017 by the Cambodian Royal Government.

For his part, Hùng expressed thanks to the minister and agencies of Cambodia for helping VNA reporters operate in Cambodia. 

HCM City promotes new models to involve citizens in public security

Individuals and organisations receive certificates of the HCM City People’s Committee for their contribution to the campaign of strengthening public security and safeguarding. — Photo thanhuytphcm.vn

The HCM City Department of Public Security in collaboration with political institutions will diversify grassroots models to mobilise all citizens for a campaign to strengthen public security and safeguarding the country.

Many efficient models for strengthening public security and national defence have been adopted in the last five years, including “Camera quan sát an ninh trật tự” (security cameras), “Nhà trọ tự quản” (self-governing boarding houses), “Tổ xe ôm tự quản” (self-governing motorbike taxi teams), Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Đức Tuấn, deputy head of the HCM City Department of Public Security’s PV28 office, said.

The campaign would go hand in hand with other successful ones such as moments of new rural development, good public relations and building a cultural lifestyle in residential areas, he told a meeting held on December 26 to review the campaign in the 2013-18 period.

The security police and members of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front would strengthen public relations activities for the early detection of potential crimes, he added.

Nguyễn Văn Tiển, deputy head of the District 12 public security department, said propaganda plays a vital role in public security and national defence and should be regularly used with a range of methods.

Public security and national defence should be integrated into social and emulation movements, he said.

In the past five years city residents reported to the public security department information related to public security in more than 121,500 instances.

This enabled the security police to prevent or solve more than 16,300 crimes related to public security in the period. 

Many households in Hòa Điền Commune, Kiên Lương District in the southern province of Kiên Giang have built tanks to store rainwater because tap water is not supplied to their homes. — Photo nld.com.vn

About 200 families living in Hòa Điền Commune, Kiên Lương District in the southern province of Kiên Giang have had to pay VNĐ100,000 (US$4.3) for a cubic metre of clean water for daily use, 15 times higher than the general water price in the province, because of the unavailability of tap water supply to their homes.

Local resident Dương Thị Lệ in Thạnh Lợi Hamlet said that her family had been living there for nearly a decade and had to buy expensive water to use.

However, the water was not clean enough for cooking and drinking.

Her family had already spent about VNĐ800,000 on buying bottled water which is used for cooking and drinking, she said, adding that the expense for water accounted for a large proportion of their income – which was just a few million Vietnamese đồng per month.

Another local resident Đinh Hoàng Việt said he and his neighbours usually store rain water to use.

However, he said there had been less rain recently, which was a cause for concern.

Chairman of Hòa Điền Commune People’s Committee Nguyễn Hữu Tính said that local authorities reported the water shortage to higher levels and discussed with the province’s water supply company about a water system for the commune.

The company committed to building a water supply system but up until now, no move has been made, Tính said. 

Thousands of workers at the Vissan Joint Stock Company in HCM City will receive an additional month’s salary and an additional bonus as a reward for business performance to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year). — Photo nld.com.vn

Trade unions in HCM City are offering their labourers Tết bonuses, gifts, year-end parties and tickets for buses and trains for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday.

At the Saigon 3 Garment Joint Stock Company, workers are busy this season but they are happy about working there.

In October the company announced that employees would receive a Tết bonus equal to three months of salary.

Phạm Văn Có, chairman of the Saigon 3 Garment Joint Stock Company’s trade union, said the company’s board of directors and trade union were determined to please their workers during Tết.

“Their hard work throughout the year contributed to our business performance, so they deserve to receive a reward,” he said.

Besides the Tết bonus, the company is offering a number of programmes totalling VNĐ3 billion (US$128,000), including a year-end party, a fruit decoration contest, a music performance, gift vouchers, Tết gifts, free tickets for buses and trains, and a lucky draw.

Đỗ Thị Lan, a worker at the company, said that she would use a part of this year’s Tết bonus to buy a new motorbike for her husband.

Lê Phước An, deputy chairman of the country’s leading food producer Vissan Joint Stock Company’s trade union, said the company would offer each employee an additional month’s salary and additional bonus between VNĐ7-10 million ($300-430) for his/her business performance.

“This year, more than 4,000 employees of the company will enjoy big Tết bonuses,” he said.

The company has also given each employee a gift voucher worth VNĐ500,000 ($21.5) which can be used to buy the company’s products

In the first days of the New Year, the company’s board of directors give lì xì (lucky money) of VNĐ1-2 million ($43-86) each to all workers.

Meanwhile, the Pou Yuen Việt Nam Co., Ltd in Bình Tân District will spend nearly VNĐ1 trillion ($43 million) for bonuses for its 66,000 labourers, the chairman of the company’s trade union, Củ Phát Nghiệp, said.

Depending on their efficiency and years at work, the company will give Tết bonuses equal to at least one month of salary, with the highest bonus 2.2 months of salary.

The company has also given free bus tickets and 500 gifts for workers in difficult circumstances, among many other Tết activities.

The upcoming Year of the Pig will begin on February 5. The Government has approved a nine-day break for the holiday from February 2 to February 10.

Many enterprises in the city have decided to pay higher Tết bonuses to motivate their employees.

The No 7 Printing Joint Stock Company’s trade union chairman, Trương Hoàng Tâm, said: “Each employee’s working attitude and responsibility plays a role in improving productivity and product quality, which are the determining factors in the success or failure of the company.”

Thanks to the contributions of all employees, the enterprise has achieved its targets set for 2018 one month ahead of schedule.

As of the end of November, the company’s total revenue was VNĐ295 billion ($12.7 million), exceeding the plan’s estimates by about 120 per cent. Its profit reached VNĐ27 billion ($1,16 million), exceeding the plan by 117 per cent.

“The enterprise will pay Tết bonuses equal to three months of salaries and organise many Tết programmes,” Tâm said.

Thân Ngọc Nghĩa, director of Chợ Lớn Investment and Import Export JS Company’s (Cholimex) planning and investment, said the company had achieved targets for 2018 two months ahead of  schedule.

“The company has decided to pay a Tết bonus equal to two months’ salary and give other Tết gifts tor each worker,” he said.

In addition, the company’s workers in difficult circumstances will be presented VNĐ2 million ($86) in cash each, he said.

Meanwhile only three provinces have disclosed their holiday bonus for labourers in the upcoming Lunar New Year, with the payouts staying the same as the last year, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Department of Industrial Relations and Wage has said.

Tống Văn Lai, deputy head of the department said to Lao Động (Labour) newspaper on Monday only Bắc Ninh, Khánh Hoà and Cà Mau had reported its Tết bonus plan.

The localities with crowded and busy labour markets had not announced their plans to the department. Most said they were on the process of collecting information from enterprises to get the final report.

The department was still waiting for the reports to get the statistics on Tết payouts for labourers this year, he said.

Lai said the department had conducted a survey on about 2,000 enterprises nation-wide. It showed the Tết bonus of the lunar Year of the Pig would be likely to be the same as the previous year.

Among the three provinces that reported on its Tết bonus plans, the payouts were still the same as the previous year, ranging from a meager VNĐ100,000 (US$4.1) to a staggering VNĐ800 million ($34,400).

The highest level was paid by a foreign direct investment enterprise. The average bonus was about VNĐ1 million ($43).

Lai said the socio-economic situation this year was relatively stable, so the Tết bonus would not be likely to have drastic changes.

According to the latest report from VietnamWorks under the Navigos Group, 64 per cent of employers are rewarding employees with Tết bonuses exceeding the value of one’s monthly salary next year.

Nearly 500 human resources professionals and 3,400 jobseekers participated in the survey. 

The survey found that only 37 per cent of employers published information about Tết bonuses.

More than a quarter of employees said they would quit if their Tết bonuses ere not up to expectation.

The survey also showed that benefit packages were a decisive factor for job applicants.

Jobseekers are currently dissatisfied with their benefit packages. Eighty-nine per cent of them would “react” if they do not receive satisfactory benefits in the future.

More than half of employers have plans to enhance employee benefits next year.

Gaku Echizenya, CEO of Navigos Group, said job-seekers’ priorities have changed, more specifically to healthcare, professional support and training.

For employers, conducting regular internal surveys is helpful to understand the benefits valued by their employees.

“People working in different industries have varying needs and expectations about benefits and bonuses, so this is an opportunity for employers to be flexible in creating customized packages that best satisfy and motivate their people,” he said. 

Locals can help build new communes

Hòa Bình Province’s Mai Hịch new-style rural commune residents ride bicycle on new road. 

Local people must be involved in the construction process for new-style rural areas, Hoàng Xuân Thành from BTAP (Budget Transparency Accountability Participation) Coalition stated at a seminar in Hà Nội yesterday.

Thành and his team from BTAP conducted a survey to judge how local people and social organisations feel about the efficiency of the National Target Programme for Building New-style Rural Areas in the provinces of Hòa Bình (north) and Quảng Trị (central).

By June this year, Hòa Bình had 51 new-style rural communes. It targets having 76 in 2020 and it currently has 120 communes in total. Quảng Trị had 42 new-style communes. Its target is 65 by 2020 and it has a total of 117 communes.

According to the surveyors, the two provinces have done a good job securing residents’ contributions to the programme in the form of both money and labour.

Thành said this success was down to the publicity and transparency of the project. Local people were consulted to determine their level and method of contribution. They agreed on exemptions or reductions for old people and under-privileged families that were unable to contribute.

“Local labour groups were assigned to perform a number of construction tasks in their locality,” Thành said.

However, some interviewed residents said they lacked information on the project’s plan, budget and timeframe.

“Investing several billion đồng to build a communal culture house is not necessary,” said a resident in Mai Hịch Commune, Hòa Bình Province. “We only need vacant land for community activities. The important thing is that incomes change.”

Hòa Bình Province Farmers’ Association said new-style rural communes must have updated production scales and landscapes.

Finding residents who will reside in the new areas should be a focus of the programme in the coming years, said Bạch Quốc Khang from the National-level Science and Technology Programme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In 2010, the Prime Minister approved the national target programme for the 2016 to 2020 period with the goal of lifting the livings standards for people, developing socio-economic infrastructure and achieving proper economic restructuring and production modes. It aims to create a democratic, equal and stable rural society imbued with traditional cultural values.

Total State investment capital for the programme is estimated to be at least VNĐ193 trillion (US$8.66 billion). 

Undeniable role of Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia’s victory

Keo Chandara, Deputy General Director of the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)

The role of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia’s victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979 was undeniable, journalists have said.

Without the help of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, Cambodia could not have gained the final victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime, said journalist Keo Chandara, Deputy General Director of the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) – Cambodia’s news agency.

He made the statement in a recent interview granted to correspondents of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in Phnom Penh ahead of the upcoming 40th anniversary of the victory.

The people of Cambodia and the world have acknowledged that if there would not have been the victory on January 7, 1979, there would not have been the survival of the Cambodian nation, he said.

“And without the assistance of Vietnamese brothers and comrades, Cambodia could not have gained the final victory and achievements today”, Keo Chandara said, stressing that: “This is an indisputable fact”.

While evaluating the role of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in the victory on January 7, 1979, journalist Teav Sarak Mony, Editor-in-chief of Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Cambodia), quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen during his recent official visit to Vietnam as saying that Vietnam’s decisive role in assisting Cambodia is an undeniable fact.

Without the victory and the support from Vietnamese voluntary soldiers as well as the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people during the 1979-1989 period, the Cambodian nation and people could not have survived and developed as today, especially after the liberation day, Cambodia had to face two major matters: rebuilding the nation and preventing the return of the Pol Pot genocide, he said.

Australian journalist Peter Starr, communication advisor of Cambodia’s National Assembly Office, said the victory was considered the most important event of all Cambodian people as it marked the country’s freedom and escape from the genocidal regime. 

He added that without the help of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, there could have been more dozens or even hundreds of thousands of Cambodian people killed under the Pol Pot regime.

Conference helps connect overseas Vietnamese with localities

Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Foreign Ministry Luong Thanh Nghi 

As many as 200 delegates representing overseas Vietnamese from 28 countries gathered at a conference in the central province of Nghe An on December 27 to discuss connections between them and localities in the homeland.

Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Foreign Ministry Luong Thanh Nghi said the function creates an opportunity for Vietnamese at home and abroad, especially those in central provinces, to explore business-investment opportunities, which will bring practical benefits for each locality’s socio-economic development in the long run.

The Party, Government and localities always pay due attention to the overseas Vietnamese community, evidenced by the implementation and perfection of mechanisms, policies and laws on citizenship, visa exemption and land ownership to support Vietnamese expatriates to do business in the homeland.

According to the World Bank, remittances to Vietnam have increased through years from 11.9 billion USD in 2016 to 13.8 billion USD in 2017. The amount is projected to reach 16 billion USD this year.

So far this year, nearly 3,000 overseas Vietnamese businesses have contributed capital totaling about 4 billion USD. Each year, between 300 and 500 overseas Vietnamese intellectuals join research and cooperation programmes on science-technology transfer, education and training, Nghi noted.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Ngoc Hoa said the conference aims to affirm the Party and State’s policy of regarding the overseas Vietnamese community as an indispensable part of the nation.

Nghe An is one of the provinces with the largest number of expatriates in the country, which stands at about 75,000, he said, adding that many associations strengthening solidarity between local people have developed in Russia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

These associations serve as an important bridge to connect and support the provincial investment, trade and tourism promotion activities, as well as boost the friendly cooperative relations between Nghe An and foreign partners, he added.

Nghe An has been improving its infrastructure system, human resources training and investment environment besides simplifying administrative procedures and widening door to investors, the official stressed.

There are approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese living and working in over 110 countries and territories worldwide.