The Association of Overseas Vietnamese in France convened its 12th congress in the capital city of Paris on April 10.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, Head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai joined more than 200 delegates at the event.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Huynh Dam sent letters to congratulate the congress.

The delegates reviewed the association’s activities over the past three years, discussed operation plans of its chapters, and elected a new executive board for the 2010-2013 term, with Nguyen Van Ky Therese as its head.

This year’s congress saw the attendance of a large number of young people, who are second and third generations of overseas Vietnamese, and students from Vietnam studying in France .

Established in 1919, the association made considerable contributions to the home country’s past struggle for national independence as well as its current construction and development.

It has also joined hands with the whole Vietnamese community in France to support its members and worked as a bridge to strengthen the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and France ./.