The State Commission on Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated its 55th founding anniversary (November 23, 1959) in Hanoi on November 21.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the SCOV’s efforts to overcome difficulties and make crucial contributions to issues relating to overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in particular and external affairs in general.

SCOV Chairman Vu Hong Nam, who also serves as Deputy Foreign Minister, said the commission, established under the Prime Minister’s Decision No.416-TTg dated November 23, 1959, was initially assigned to receive OVs returning home after peace was restored in northern Vietnam in 1954. It was also tasked to provide assistance and protection for Vietnamese nationals living abroad.

During wartime, the SCOV worked to call upon OVs around the globe to materially and spiritually support the liberation and unification of their homeland.

In the following time, it coordinated with relevant agencies to mobilise OVs’ contributions to the national construction and defence, proposed important policies relating to OVs’ interests, and supported the Vietnamese community abroad, Nam said.

With its outstanding achievements, the SCOV was awarded a number of noble titles by the Party and State such as the Ho Chi Minh Order, the Independence Order (first class), and the Labour Order (first class).-VNA