During a meeting today in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stated that this was his first encounter with the overseas Vietnamese community as head of government, according to TTXVN.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the meeting with officials, staff of representative agencies, and the Vietnamese community in Russia. Photo: VGP

Nearly 80,000 Vietnamese people currently live, study, and work across various locations in Russia. They are active in numerous sectors, including trade, services, manufacturing, logistics, import-export, restaurants, tourism, scientific research, education, and high technology.

The Prime Minister noted Russia hosts a large and historically established Vietnamese community. This community has consistently supported Vietnam, actively contributing to the traditional friendship between the two nations.

According to the Prime Minister, to achieve significant goals such as maintaining double-digit economic growth for many consecutive years, becoming a developing country with modern industry by 2030, and a high-income developed country by 2045, Vietnam requires the collective contribution of its 6,5 million overseas Vietnamese, including those in Russia.

The Prime Minister expressed his wish for the Vietnamese community in Russia to further contribute to the country's development. He urged Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Russia to expand their investment and business activities, becoming a bridge to bring Vietnamese goods into the Russian market and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia reported that many Vietnamese entrepreneurs, intellectuals, experts, and students have established themselves in Russian society, earning high regard from the government and its people. Some have returned to Vietnam with capital and experience to establish leading private enterprises in the country.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung at a meeting with the Vietnamese community in Russia. Photo: VGP

The head of government encouraged the younger generation of Vietnamese in Russia to continue their efforts in studying, training, integrating into the host society, preserving Vietnamese language and culture, nurturing love for their homeland, and becoming global citizens embodying Vietnamese identity.

Emphasizing that each overseas Vietnamese must be an ambassador for the nation, the Prime Minister hoped the community would continue to unite, abide by local laws, build an image of a civilized, compassionate, successful, and integrated community, while always contributing to the homeland through practical actions, joining hands to build a strong and prosperous nation.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung is attending the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of relations and conducting bilateral activities in Kazan from 16-18/6, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

This visit marks Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's first official trip to Russia in his new role. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang stated that the overarching goal of the visit is to promote Vietnam's "bridge" role, foster consensus, and contribute practical orientations, creating new momentum for ASEAN-Russia relations.

Vu Hoang