Vietnamese community celebrates 45 years of Vietnam

Photo caption — Former cadres of labor teams, interpreters during the GDR period, and German cadres in the German Government 's working delegation to Vietnam to negotiate and sign the Supplementary Protocol to the German-Vietnamese Labor Agreement in May 1990 attended the ceremony. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA correspondent in Germany

According to a VNA reporter in Germany, labor cooperation is not only an important milestone in bilateral relations but also a long and proud journey of tens of thousands of Vietnamese workers, who have overcome many difficulties in a foreign land to build an increasingly mature and cohesive Vietnamese community, making many positive contributions to German society.

In his opening speech at the ceremony, Club President Nguyen Quoc Hung emphasized: “Looking back at what the Vietnamese community in Germany has achieved, we feel proud that the former team leaders and interpreters have contributed significantly to the development and integration of the Vietnamese community in Germany. The former team leaders and interpreters are still active factors in community activities.”

After the reunification of Germany, the challenges of employment, accommodation, and integration became more severe for Vietnamese contract workers. However, during that period, many German friends wholeheartedly stood side by side to help and fight for the rights of the Vietnamese community in Germany. They are historical witnesses and loyal friends of the Vietnamese community. Ms. Almuth Berger, former State Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, in charge of migration, refugees and integration of the German Government in 1990, was such a person. She fought to ensure that the interests of the immigrant community in the former East Germany were not overlooked in the effort to unify the country. Ms. Berger said that the Vietnamese community in Germany has contributed greatly to the diverse development of Germany and she greatly respects the results that the Vietnamese community has achieved and is achieving.

Speaking at the ceremony, Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy, Mr. Dang Hoang Linh, assessed the ceremony as an important and meaningful event, to show gratitude to friends, in accordance with the culture and morality of "remembering the source of water when drinking" of the Vietnamese people. He said that the help, support and dedication of German friends to the Vietnamese community has contributed to the Vietnamese community in Germany's current position: comprehensive development, while contributing to economic growth and cultural diversity in Germany. He expressed his gratitude to all German friends who have been supporting the Vietnamese community.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Professor Nguyen Xuan Thinh from TU Dortmund University, Acting President of the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany, affirmed that the ceremony is even more meaningful when it is held on the anniversary of German reunification and in the special year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, half a century of dialogue, trust and building bridges between the two countries.

On April 11, 1980, the Labor Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam and the German Democratic Republic was signed, aiming to help the former East Germany solve the problem of labor shortage, and at the same time help Vietnam solve employment, create income for workers, and have more foreign currency in the context of the economy facing many difficulties after the war and being embargoed. On the basis of the agreement, tens of thousands of Vietnamese workers were sent to work in Germany, peaking in the years 1987-1989 when there were about 90,000 foreign workers working in the German Democratic Republic, of which 60,000 were Vietnamese, working in more than 700 enterprises and unions, in most fields, throughout East Germany at that time.

Currently, the Vietnamese community in Germany has more than 200,000 people, including more than 10,000 scientists and experts, contributing to advances in research, medicine, technology and education. There are more than 10,000 Vietnamese businesses, from small family businesses to international corporations, creating jobs, paying taxes and contributing to Germany's economic strength. More than 8,000 Vietnamese students and doctoral candidates are preparing for their future at German universities. More than 200 strong Vietnamese associations and organizations create the foundation for community life, a place to meet, develop culture and solidarity. Professor Nguyen Xuan Thinh believes that these numbers are proof of the diligence, desire to learn, adaptability and strong will of the Vietnamese people.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/cong-dong-viet-nam-ky-niem-45-nam-hop-tac-lao-dong-viet-nam-duc-20251004200620423.htm