Vietnam's top leader meets diaspora, EU officials during European tour

The Vietnamese leadership delegation held a series of engagements with diplomatic missions and expatriate communities across Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, and southern Sweden as part of an official European tour aimed at strengthening ties with host nations and the diaspora.

During the meetings, the top leader emphasized the significant contributions of Vietnamese communities abroad to the nation's development trajectory. He noted that overseas Vietnamese have maintained strong cultural and emotional bonds with their homeland while simultaneously building stable lives and achieving economic prosperity in their adopted countries.

The General Secretary and President highlighted the dual commitment of the diaspora to preserving Vietnamese identity and values while integrating constructively into European societies. He acknowledged their role as cultural ambassadors and bridges between Vietnam and their host nations.

Simultaneously, Vietnam and Belgium moved to expand their partnership, with discussions focused on enhancing trade relations and investment opportunities between the two nations. The visits underscore Hanoi's broader strategic engagement with the European Union and its member states, reflecting Vietnam's growing diplomatic presence in the region.

The delegation's itinerary across multiple Nordic and Western European nations signals Vietnam's intent to deepen political, economic, and cultural relationships with key European partners while reinforcing connections with its overseas communities.

Photo: To Lam (right) meets EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Hanoi, July 2024. Minh Hoang / European Commission Audiovisual Service via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).