The Vietnamese community is recognized as an ethnic minority in Slovakia.

Người Đưa Tin•27/08/2023

On August 25, 2023, in Bratislava, the Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the Vietnamese community in Slovakia being recognized as the 14th ethnic minority of the Slovak Republic.

Attending the congratulatory ceremony, on the Slovak side were Mr. Juraj Droba, President of the Bratislava region, Mr. Martin Klus, Member of Parliament, and officials from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs . On the Vietnamese side, attendees included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan, and a large number of Vietnamese expatriates in Slovakia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan emphasized that the Slovak government's recognition of the Vietnamese community as a national minority is proof of the positive role of the Vietnamese community in the development of Slovakia, thereby contributing even more effectively to the flourishing of friendly relations between Vietnam and Slovakia.

Event - The Vietnamese community is recognized as an ethnic minority in Slovakia. — *The celebratory ceremony took place in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere, filled with pride and warm friendship between the people of the two countries. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)*

Sharing in the joy of the Vietnamese community on this important occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stated that, through their intelligence and resilience, hard work and determination to overcome difficulties, as well as harmonious conduct and fine cultural traditions, the Vietnamese community abroad has gradually affirmed its position in the local societies.

It was a process of relentless effort, paid for with sweat, tears, and the hardships of the early days of establishing a career, far from home and family, to now be considered part of the large family of Slovak peoples.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always pay deep attention to the Vietnamese community abroad, considering them "an inseparable part and an important resource of the Vietnamese nation."

In that spirit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia will continue to accompany and support the Vietnamese community in upholding the tradition of mutual assistance and compassion, complying with the law, and actively integrating, contributing to the development of the host country, uniting the community for mutual development, and looking towards their homeland.

On this occasion, the Deputy Minister thanked the Slovak government for its attention and support and requested the government to continue providing further assistance and creating more favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle down, integrate actively into the local society, and contribute to strengthening the traditional cooperative and friendly relations between the two countries.

Congratulating the Vietnamese community in Slovakia, the Chairman of the Bratislava region, Mr. Juraj Droba, highly appreciated the community's initiative and contributions; expressing his joy and readiness to support the community as an integral part of the Slovak nation.

The Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese People in Slovakia, Mr. Vo Phuong, on behalf of the community, thanked Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang for attending and speaking at the Congratulatory Ceremony, demonstrating the concern of the Party, State, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Vietnamese community in Slovakia; thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia, the government, and the people of Slovakia for their companionship and support; and pledged that in their new positions, the community will continue to play a bridging role between the two countries and their people.

The celebratory ceremony took place in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere, filled with pride and warm friendship between the people of the two countries. The unique cultural performances and traditional dishes of both nations built cultural bridges, bringing the people of the two countries closer together. It also provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to enhance their national pride and cultivate a sense of preserving and promoting the beautiful cultural values of Vietnam within the beautiful and friendly country of Slovakia.

On June 7, 2023, the Slovak government decided to recognize people of Vietnamese descent as the 14th ethnic minority of Slovakia. To date, the Vietnamese community in Slovakia is the second Vietnamese community in the world (after the Czech Republic) to be recognized as a local ethnic minority. On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a congratulatory letter to the Vietnamese community in Slovakia.

In the letter, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that this event is an important milestone with multifaceted significance in the process of building and developing the Vietnamese community in Slovakia; affirming the role and position of Vietnamese-Slovaks in particular and the Vietnamese community living in Slovakia in general in Slovak society.

This achievement is the culmination of the community's continuous efforts in developing and integrating into the host society; affirming the correct policies and guidelines of the Party and State of Vietnam towards the Vietnamese community abroad; the valuable attention, support, and assistance of the Government and people of Slovakia; and the positive development of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, Le Thi Thu Hang, also sent a Letter of Thanks to the Government Council on Human Rights, Minorities and Gender Equality of the Government of Slovakia.

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