Deputy Foreign Minister praised contributions by OVs in Malaysia to homeland
WVR/VNA - Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that people-to-people diplomacy and friendship between Vietnam and Malaysia form an important part of the countries' Strategic Partnership.
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| The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia has made remarkable efforts in preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang. (Photo: WVR) |
From February 8-10, 2025, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang led a delegation on a working visit to Malaysia, hailing the OV community's efforts in preserving the traditional culture and contributing to the homeland.
During Deputy Foreign Minister Hang's meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh and representatives of Vietnamese agencies in Malaysia reported on the local Vietnamese community, which numbers around 30,000 people, including workers, students, researchers, and women in multicultural families. The community has shown activeness in developing livelihoods and integrating into the Malaysian society while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
They have organised various activities to strengthen ties within the community, uphold the Vietnamese language and culture, introduce Vietnamese cuisine, and participate in charitable efforts. Notably, the community donated over 300 million VND (11,800 USD) to support victims of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam.
The Malaysia – Vietnam Friendship Association has played a key role in fostering the OV community's solidarity and contributing to bilateral relations. Meanwhile, the embassy has prioritised community support and citizen protection while organising Vietnamese language classes at the embassy and online.
However, certain difficulties related to the legal status and living conditions have hindered the community from maximising their development potential.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia has made remarkable efforts in preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language, said the Deputy Minister.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang at the meeting wth the Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia. (Photo: WVR) |
Deputy Minister Hang praised the Embassy’s efforts, particularly in protecting the rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens. She asked the Embassy to push ahead with performing OV-related tasks and implementing the Party and State's policies towards the community, provide timely assitance for the OVs, and augment efforts to preserve the traditional culture and promote the Vietnamese language education, thereby contributing to people-to-people diplomacy as well as friendship between the two countries, an important part of the Vietnam – Malaysia Strategic Partnership.
At a meeting with the Embassy, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang also praised the endeavours of teachers and students in Malaysia and commended the Embassy’s dedication to supporting the Vietnamese community. She highlighted its role in facilitating the Vietnamese Language Club by providing teaching materials and creating favourable conditions for students to maintain their Vietnamese identity.
As the number of multicultural families grows, so does the demand for Vietnamese language education. Now in its ninth year, the Vietnamese language programme at the embassy has expanded to nine classes with over 40 students, including three in-person in the weekend and six online. With two teachers in charge, the programme remains fully booked.
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| Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh, teachers, students and parents of Vietnamese class. (Photo: WVR) |
Visiting the classes, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang expressed delight at the efforts of parents in preserving Vietnamese culture, fostering connections with their homeland, and strengthening ties between Vietnamese and local communities. She announced the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs' plan to organise a summer camp for younger children and their families in Vietnam.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also recognised the contributions of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Malaysia, creating job opportunities for fellow nationals. She supported the community’s aspiration to establish a Vietnamese pagoda and a cultural centre, calling it an initiative worthy of being realised in the near future.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang (left) visits the Vietnam-Thailand-Cambodia mart, owned by the family of Bui Trong Vinh - a Vietnamese expat in Malaysia. (Photo: VNA) |
During her visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang met with leaders of the Malaysia – Vietnam Friendship Association and community representatives while visiting some families and businesses of OVs in Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas. Deputy Minister Hang also visited Tran Thi Chang, Chairwoman of the Malaysia – Vietnam Friendship Association.
The OVs expressed gratitude for the Party and State’s support and proposed Vietnamese leaders work with the Malaysian administration to help further strengthen the legal status of OVs, especially those from multicultural families, in Malaysia. They also asked for the State Committee's help with educational materials and infrastructure to step up the language education as well as with cultural preservation.
Stating that every overseas Vietnamese serves as an Ambassador for Vietnamese culture, connecting Vietnam with the international community, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang urged them to uphold and promote Vietnamese traditions, helping bring Vietnam closer to the world. She also acknowledged the role of Vietnamese associations in fostering cultural exchanges, calling them a crucial factor in strengthening Vietnam-Malaysia relations for mutual benefit.
As part of her visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang extended Lunar New Year wishes to prominent Vietnamese families in Malaysia and toured Vietnamese-owned businesses.
(Source: WVR/VNA)
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