Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang visits the Vietnamese community in Cyprus

Attending the meeting were the Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy and Cyprus, Duong Hai Hung, Mr. George Christofides, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Cyprus, and nearly 40 representatives of Vietnamese community organizations.

Thứ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Lê Thị Thu Hằng thăm cộng đồng người Việt tại Cyprus

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang speaks at the meeting with the community.

In his briefing to the delegation, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung assessed that the community has a spirit of solidarity and strives to integrate, contributing to the socio -economic life of the host country, which has been recognized and highly appreciated by the Cypriot government.

Furthermore, the community has become increasingly connected to the homeland over time, organizing many activities to promote Vietnamese culture, engage in charitable work, and respond to movements initiated in Vietnam. For example, in 2024, the Vietnamese community in Cyprus donated 20,000 Euros to help their compatriots in Vietnam overcome the consequences of Typhoon Yagi .

On behalf of the community, Mr. Nguyen Duc Manh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnamese community in Cyprus, Ms. Pham Thi Huong Giang, Vice Chairman, and Ms. Phung Thi Quyen, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Workers in Cyprus, reported on the activities of the associations over the past period.

The community began to form around 2013 and currently has about 6,000 people living mainly in major cities such as Nicosia, Limassol, Paros, etc.

Vietnamese community organizations such as the Community Management Board, the Volunteer Board, the Culture and Arts Board, the Hai Duong Hometown Association, the Vietnamese Workers' Community Association in Cyprus, etc., have been established and are actively operating with the goal of connecting and supporting those in difficult circumstances, while spreading Vietnamese cultural identity and becoming a bridge between the community and the Embassy as well as the local authorities.

The overseas Vietnamese affirmed that, despite being far away, they always follow the situation in the country and are proud of the nation's position, while also expressing their gratitude for the care and attention of the Party and the State towards their compatriots abroad.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the visit took place precisely as Vietnam and Cyprus celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1975-2025), and also marked the first time a delegation had conducted community work in an area with an increasingly large Vietnamese population in just a few years.

The Deputy Minister expressed the country's affection for the Vietnamese community on the occasion of major national holidays, especially the recent 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd, commending their willpower and efforts to overcome challenges in life, integrate well, and increasingly assert their role in Cypriot society.

With their diligence, hard work, and resourcefulness, many Vietnamese people in Cyprus have overcome numerous challenges and now enjoy increasingly stable and successful lives. The Deputy Minister hopes that the community will continue to abide by local laws, focus on their work to improve their lives, uphold the spirit of mutual support and solidarity to build an increasingly strong and prosperous community with a more secure position in local society, contributing to building a positive image of Vietnam and its people to the international community.

Emphasizing the importance of preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions and language for future generations, the Deputy Minister stated that this should begin within each family to maintain a connection with family and homeland in Vietnam.

On this occasion, the Deputy Minister informed the people about Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements and international integration, while affirming that the Party and Government always pay attention to the legitimate rights and interests of the people and have increasingly favorable policies to help them stay connected to the country.

The Deputy Minister invited overseas Vietnamese to return to Vietnam to participate in events organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, such as the "Spring in the Homeland" program, the delegation of overseas Vietnamese attending the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, the delegation visiting the military and people of Truong Sa island district, the Summer Camp for overseas Vietnamese youth, and the skills training course for Vietnamese language teachers…

The Deputy Minister presented the community with Vietnamese language teaching materials, books on Vietnamese history and culture, and Vietnamese flags for use in community cultural promotion activities.

Earlier, as part of the working trip, the Deputy Minister visited and worked at the headquarters of the Honorary Consulate of Vietnam in Cyprus.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang poses for a commemorative photo with members of the community.

In a warm and cordial atmosphere, Mr. George Christofides, Honorary Consul, expressed his honor to welcome the delegation led by Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang.

He stated that since his appointment as Honorary Consul of Vietnam in 2012, he has consistently strived to bridge the gap between the community and the local authorities, assisting with legal matters, supporting the community in promoting their culture, and working closely with the Embassy to protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese workers.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang expressed her appreciation for the affection, sincerity, and wholehearted dedication to Vietnam shown by Mr. George Christofides and his wife.

As the Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Cyprus, and a close friend of Vietnam, Mr. George Christofides has undertaken many initiatives and activities that have contributed to the increasingly substantive and effective development of friendly relations between the two countries.

In particular, for the Vietnamese community in Cyprus, Mr. Christofides has always been involved in community activities, providing dedicated and effective support and care, and is highly respected by the community.

The delegation visited several typical businesses owned by Vietnamese expatriates in Cyprus. Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang highly appreciated the dynamism and business acumen of the expatriates, and encouraged them to actively promote, sell, and distribute Vietnamese goods abroad.

Here are some highlights from the visit: