Speech of President Vo Van Thuong at the Homeland Spring Program 2024

Dear leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front ,

Dear uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and children!

Today, in the City named after beloved leader Ho Chi Minh, the Heroic City, the Spring City, the City of Love, I, along with the leaders of the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Ho Chi Minh City, are happy to meet our compatriots from all over the world returning to our homeland Vietnam to celebrate the New Year of the Dragon 2024.

On behalf of the Party, State and Fatherland Front leaders and with my personal feelings, I would like to send to all distinguished guests - beloved children of the motherland Vietnam who are living, working and studying abroad my warm regards, warmest feelings and best wishes for the new year.

Dear compatriots and delegates!

We have gone through a difficult year with many major, complex, unpredictable changes, increasing uncertainties, prolonged conflicts, local wars in many regions, increasingly extreme weather and severe natural disasters; the world economy has been slow to recover, negatively impacting all countries. In that context, Vietnam has strived to overcome difficulties, achieving important and comprehensive results in all fields with outstanding marks, GDP growth reached 5.05%, political and social stability; national defense and security have been maintained; foreign relations have been open; the fields of culture, labor, employment, social security and people's lives continue to receive attention, focus and have made much progress.

The results of 2023 have contributed to the country's great and historic achievements after nearly 50 years of national reunification and nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process. From a poor country, experiencing war with many losses and pains that needed to be healed; a country that was once besieged and embargoed, to this day, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 193 countries and territories; is a member of 70 regional and global organizations, taking on important international roles and responsibilities; and actively contributing to peace, stability and development in the world. Vietnam has risen to become a leading dynamic economy in Asia - Pacific, an important link in many economic links, free trade agreements, regional and global production chains. Vietnam has affirmed its image and position as an independent, self-reliant, dynamically developing country; a loyal and sincere friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community; a country of peace, friendship, cooperation and development; a beautiful, safe, friendly and hospitable destination...

These achievements were made thanks to the correct leadership of the Party, the efforts of the entire political system on the basis of promoting the strength of national solidarity, indomitable will and courage, the spirit of determination, self-reliance, self-improvement, and the strong aspiration for independence, freedom, peace and happiness of our nation, including the valuable and very important contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad. Vietnamese people abroad, regardless of generation or location, as children of Lac and Hong, are always a part of the flesh and blood, an inseparable part of the Fatherland, always present in the hearts and feelings of the country and people of Vietnam.

During the past year, I had the opportunity to visit a number of countries, meet overseas Vietnamese and on the eve of the traditional New Year of the nation, listening to their sharing, I was very moved. I felt the aspiration and will to rise up, felt the desire and longing to join hands to contribute to the development of the country. Although living far from the Fatherland, our compatriots always nurture and promote the spirit of patriotism, national pride, preserve cultural traditions and look back to their roots, attached to their family, homeland and country. Many people have made spiritual, material and even blood contributions to the cause of national liberation, national unification, building and defending our beloved Vietnam. Many overseas Vietnamese have been successful and famous in many fields, making positive contributions to the host country, being an important bridge between Vietnam and the world, an important factor in people's diplomacy, actively preserving and spreading national cultural values, building the image of Vietnam abroad, contributing to enhancing the position and prestige of Vietnam in the international arena.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I express my joy at the achievements that overseas Vietnamese have attained; acknowledge, respect and appreciate the great contributions and quiet, persistent efforts of each Vietnamese person for the Fatherland.

Dear compatriots and delegates!

Vietnam is firmly on the path to realizing the aspiration and vision of developing a prosperous and happy country, becoming a developed country with high income by 2045. To successfully realize that aspiration, it is necessary to further promote the strength of national solidarity, mobilize and effectively use all resources, and unleash the potential and creativity of the people for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Currently, there are nearly 6 million Vietnamese living in 130 countries and territories. Many have affirmed their own values, are exemplary individuals, prestigious and influential in the overseas Vietnamese community, and are highly appreciated by the host countries. The Party and the State always sincerely hope that our compatriots abroad can develop their potential, strengths, and creativity, reap many successes, have a stable life, and increasingly have a more solid legal, economic, and political status, and integrate deeply into the host society. The success of each Vietnamese person abroad always brings joy and pride to the Fatherland of Vietnam.

Nowadays, the Vietnamese community is becoming more and more diverse with the succession of many generations. I hope that young people will always be attached to their homeland, turn towards Vietnam, speak Vietnamese, be proud of their Vietnamese origin and the good traditional values of the nation. I believe that the Vietnamese spirit and Vietnamese values will make your identity richer and more attractive in the multicultural community.

And no matter where, in what conditions, what age, what nationality, as a person of Vietnamese blood, as a patriotic Vietnamese, everyone can contribute to the Fatherland in their own way. Because love for the Fatherland is a simple, close and natural thing, a natural and legitimate need and desire.

Dear compatriots and delegates!

The Party and State of Vietnam are continuing to make efforts to improve the legal system and reform administrative procedures, in order to create increasingly favorable conditions for compatriots to visit their homeland and relatives, invest, produce, do business, cooperate in science and technology - education, participate in cultural and artistic activities, contribute to policy making, share experiences and knowledge, and act as a bridge between Vietnam and the world. Vietnam wishes to welcome international investors, including those of Vietnamese origin, on the basis of ensuring fairness and equality for everyone in accessing opportunities, contributing to the country and enjoying the fruits of development. I hope that in the coming time, compatriots will visit the country more often to witness the changes in the country, the achievements of the renovation process, and join hands to build and protect our beloved Vietnam.

As a country that has suffered the pain of war, the country was divided, the people were divided, but with the tradition of peace, humanity, and justice of the nation, Vietnam has become a model of post-war reconciliation, building good relationships with other countries, including former enemies. Therefore, we Vietnamese people who share the same origin, the same "Dragon - Fairy's children", must together overcome the remaining prejudices and disagreements to join hands to build a spirit of openness, respect, sympathy, mutual trust, and must together achieve national reconciliation for the bright future of the country, of the people and of our descendants. I call on overseas Vietnamese to unite, firmly believe in the nation's goals, join hands to build the foundation, potential, position, and prestige of the country, so that our beloved Vietnam can develop steadily, standing shoulder to shoulder with the powers of the five continents.

Dear compatriots and delegates!

Tet is always very special to Vietnamese people. This is the occasion for those who live far away to return home, reunite with their families, their homeland, and joyfully welcome the new year. Those who have not had the opportunity to return will also turn their hearts to their homeland with deep and sacred emotions.

According to our ancestors' tradition, December 23 is the day to worship the Kitchen Gods, release carp, inform Heaven, Earth, and Ancestors about the past year, repair and clean the house, get rid of old things, open our hearts to prepare to welcome a new year with new energy, new hope for a bright future, and prosperity in all things.

In that spirit, once again, I wish our compatriots abroad and delegates a new year of good health, happiness and success.

Wishing the great solidarity bloc of the Vietnamese people to continuously develop.

Wishing our beloved Vietnam more and more prosperity and happiness.

New year, new spirit, new victory!

Thank you very much!

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