At the first meeting of the Steering Committee for the protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) onOctober 28 held a ceremony to announce a decision on🍌 the establishment its SteeringCommittee for the protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad.
Later the same day, the Steering Committee convened its first meeting, whichwas chaired by its head, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu.
Attending the event were representatives of the MoFA’s relevant units and the VietnameseAmbassadors to Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Over the past time, the protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad hasbeen implemented in a timely and effective manner thanks to the attention and closedirections of high-ranking leaders as welll as the participation and close coordinationof ministries, agencies and localities, especially the MoFA and Vietnameserepresentative agencies abroad.
In early 2022, the ministry and Vietnam's representative agencies in Ukraineand some neighbouring countries organised the evacuation of about 6,000Vietnamese nationals affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, of which about1,600 were brought back to Vietnam and others were safely evacuated to a thirdcountry.
The establishment of the Steering Committee is of great significance as theprotection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities abroad is taking place amidincreasingly complicated and unpredictable developments such as theRussia-Ukraine conflict, Vietnamese citizens tricked into working abroad,illegally residence, forced labour, and the handling of Vietnamese fishermenand fishing vessels by other countries.
Under the decision, signed by Minister Bui Thanh Son, the Steering Committee is under the direction of MOFA leaders, with the participation of relevant units of the ministry and representative agencies when any citizen protection case emerges.
It is responsible for studying guidelines and policies regarding citizen protection and offering advice to the Government and the MOFA when there are situations that affect the rights and interests of the State, citizens and legal entities of Vietnam abroad. The Consular Department is the standing body of the Steering Committee.
Addressing the meeting, Hieu affirmed that the Party delegation to and leaders of the MOFA always define citizen protection as a regular political task. He expected that the work would be carried out in a more timely and effective manner, ensuring smooth direction and harmonious coordination between agencies at home and abroad.
The establishment of the Steering Committee will improve the quality and professionalism of citizen protection work in the future.
A number of important issues were also touched upon at the meeting, including a coordination mechanism between the ministry's units and representative agencies, and plans to protect Vietnamese citizens and legal entities in the context of the escalating coꦉnflict between Russia and Ukraine./.
