The deep affection of overseas Vietnamese for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

Despite his busy schedule and numerous responsibilities, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always makes time to meet with the Vietnamese community abroad, demonstrating his responsibility and special affection for overseas Vietnamese.

General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong with overseas Vietnamese attending the 2019 Homeland Spring Program. Photo: Tri Dung/TTXVN

Speaking at the 2019 Spring Homeland program, the General Secretary once said: "For the country and people of Vietnam, overseas Vietnamese, no matter where they are, are always an inseparable part of the homeland."

Sincere words, affectionate gestures and glances, or warm handshakes during intimate encounters have left an unforgettable impression on millions of Vietnamese people living far from their homeland. Therefore, upon hearing the news of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing, the Vietnamese community around the world shared a common feeling of profound sorrow and boundless grief for a leader to whom the people placed their complete trust and love.

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For Ninh Duc Hoang Long, a Vietnamese expatriate in Hungary, upon hearing the news of the General Secretary's passing, he expressed his boundless sorrow. Long believes that this is certainly not just his personal grief but also a great loss for the entire nation.

Sharing his fortunate memories of meeting the General Secretary, Ninh Duc Hoang Long recounted that, as an opera artist of the Hungarian National Opera House, during the Vietnam-Hungary state-level diplomatic meeting in October 2018, he had the honor of performing to welcome General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level delegations of the two countries at the Hungarian Parliament.

After the performance, having the opportunity to meet the General Secretary in person, the 33-year-old felt an indescribable emotion upon seeing the General Secretary's warm smile and affectionate, caring gaze. "He said he was very happy and proud, and urged me to continue striving to improve myself to build a positive image of Vietnamese people abroad and to continue being a cultural bridge between the two countries. Those words were not only encouragement but also a message full of affection and responsibility," Long recounted, his voice choked with emotion.

Four months later, during his return to attend the 2019 Spring Homeland program with the delegation of outstanding overseas Vietnamese, Hoang Long once again had the honor of meeting the General Secretary at the incense offering ceremony at Ngoc Son Temple. Recalling this moment, Hoang Long still vividly remembers the emotional feeling when, amidst hundreds of overseas Vietnamese, the General Secretary recognized and shook his hand. Meeting the General Secretary twice, each time left a deep impression and boundless gratitude in Ninh Duc Hoang Long.

"The simple, unpretentious, and heartfelt image of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left a deep impression on me. I felt his genuine affection and concern for the Vietnamese community living abroad, as well as for the country's artists and writers. This care and encouragement has helped me and many others in the overseas Vietnamese community to feel more connected to our roots and proud of our country. The teachings and example of the General Secretary will forever be a source of motivation for me and the younger generation, especially the young Vietnamese people abroad, to continue striving to make many practical contributions to the country," Ninh Duc Hoang Long shared emotionally.

Inspiring national unity

As an overseas Vietnamese who has studied, lived, and worked in South Korea for nearly 20 years, Dr. Tran Hai Linh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and President of the Vietnam-Korea Business and Investment Association, had the honor of meeting General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong twice in South Korea, both in his capacity as Chairman of the National Assembly (in 2008) and later as General Secretary (in 2014).

Immediately following the warm welcome ceremony upon his arrival in South Korea, around the evening of October 1, 2014, in Seoul, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited the Embassy and had a cordial conversation with the Vietnamese community in South Korea. In the midst of a packed visit schedule, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's meeting with the Vietnamese community demonstrated his affection and love for his compatriots far from their homeland.

At that time, as the President of the General Association of Vietnamese People in Korea, Mr. Tran Hai Linh had the honor of representing the community in presenting a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the General Secretary.

During the meeting, Mr. Linh stated that not only he but also the Vietnamese community in South Korea were deeply moved and impressed by the General Secretary's gentle and warm words. These words included: "The consistent policy of the Party and State is to always consider the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation, always creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to stabilize their lives and integrate into local societies; helping the community maintain and promote their national cultural identity, and to remain connected to their homeland."

National unity and the preservation and development of national culture are two of the many issues that the General Secretary has emphasized repeatedly. The General Secretary hopes that the Vietnamese community will seriously abide by the laws of the host country, unite and support each other; at the same time, preserve their national cultural identity, look towards their homeland; and join hands with the Party and the State to contribute to making Vietnam-Korea relations more substantive and effective.

According to Mr. Tran Hai Linh, the second time he met the General Secretary was during the 2019 Spring Homeland program. After performing the traditional ritual of releasing carp, the General Secretary and President cordially chatted with each representative of overseas Vietnamese from various countries. He kindly inquired about the living conditions, work, and business activities of the overseas Vietnamese; encouraging them to always remain united, strive to overcome difficulties, integrate into their host societies, while preserving their national cultural identity and always looking towards their homeland.

Tran Hai Linh recounted that when it was his turn, the General Secretary said, "Here's a Korean expatriate," and he was able to shake the General Secretary's hand very firmly and for a long time. He briefly reported on the situation of the community, and the General Secretary said, "Keep trying harder, Linh!", then turned to all the expatriates present at the ceremony and said, "I wish all of you a healthy, prosperous, and successful New Year, so that our country may develop even more."

"The General Secretary is also simple and approachable to the people, inspiring all overseas Vietnamese with the spirit of national unity," Linh shared.

A role model of humility, exemplary conduct, and simplicity.

Upon hearing the news of the General Secretary's passing, Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien, President of the Association of Vietnamese People in the Czech Republic, was shocked, saddened, and deeply saddened. In his mind and the impression of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a leader in whom the people placed their complete trust, love, and respect.

The legacy left by the General Secretary not only inspires and builds confidence but also enhances the spirit of national unity among the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic in particular, and overseas Vietnamese around the world in general, hướng towards their homeland. It can be said that, over the past period, the policies and guidelines have clearly demonstrated the affection and responsibility of the Party and State in caring for the Vietnamese community abroad; at the same time, they have attracted and mobilized resources, sentiment, and the spirit of solidarity among overseas Vietnamese.

Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien shared that the General Secretary was a kind and humane person, a shining example of morality, wholeheartedly sacrificing for the country; yet he was also a simple, approachable person who showed great affection for the Vietnamese community abroad. Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien recalled the official visit to the Czech Republic in 2009 by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in his capacity as Chairman of the National Assembly. The first place the Chairman of the National Assembly visited was the Vietnamese language center for the children of overseas Vietnamese in the Czech Republic. The Chairman of the National Assembly kindly advised on the work of preserving and promoting national cultural values and safeguarding the Vietnamese language for younger generations born and raised abroad...

Recalling his honor of meeting the General Secretary during the 2019 Spring Homeland program, Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien said: "It was a very firm, warm, and affectionate handshake. I can never forget it. When I reported to the General Secretary that the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic had been recognized by the Czech government as the 14th ethnic minority, I saw that the General Secretary was very happy, nodding and smiling warmly."

Amidst a world and region marked by both opportunities and challenges, and numerous global and regional changes, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhien was particularly impressed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's call to build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy, imbued with the unique character of Vietnamese bamboo. Thanks to the sound diplomatic policies of the Party and State, the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, and throughout the world, can study, live, and work with peace of mind.

"Remembering the General Secretary, each overseas Vietnamese remembers a shining example of revolutionary moral qualities; from there, they strengthen their love and faith in the country, consolidate the great national unity, and join hands in building and developing a prosperous and strong nation," said Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhien.

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