Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan applauded the contributions of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) and its staff over the past 50 years at the celebrations of the 50th establishment of the COVA in Hanoi on Nov. 23.

Vice President Doan said the Party and State have always attached importance to the mobilisation work of Vietnamese living overseas during the revolutionary process.

She went on to say that such work, as well as that of patriotic overseas Vietnamese organisations worldwide, has contributed to national independence in the past two struggles.

Politburo Resolution 36 affirms the importance of solid relations with overseas Vietnamese, she said, emphasising that her countrymen abroad are an inseparable part of, and a human resource for, the Vietnamese national community. They are also a key factor in enhancing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.

The achievements of the nation’s renewal process have stirred national pride in the people, and attracted more and more overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland to invest and conduct business, she noted.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said he was happy that COVA was awarded with the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the esteemed distinction granted by the Party and State, for its achievements over half a century./.