(VOV) – Vietnamese ambassador to Germany Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh granted an exclusive interview to a VOV reporter regarding the Vietnamese community’s contributions to Vietnam-Germany friendship.
Reporter: Over the past four decades, diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam have developed consistently well. From 2008 to 2013, there were four high-level visits and various other ministerial visits, including the German Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam in 2011.
During this visit the Hanoi Declaration was signed, regarding the major cooperative fields of politics, culture, science, technology, energy, environment and development. Vietnam, Germany established a strategic partnership and since then relations have reached heightened levels.
To further promote relations between Vietnam and Germany, 2014 has been selected as the focal year of economic diplomacy. Through high-ranking visits, in particular ministers from Ministries of Planning and Investment, Industry and Trade, we aim to increase cooperation in economics and trade between the two nations.
Reporter: What is the role of the Vietnamese community living and working in Germany in the development of Vietnam-Germany relationship?
Ambassador Anh: There are approximately 125, 000 Vietnamese nationals living in Germany, they are a strong community who have integrated well in to the community obeying local laws.
While the first generation of overseas Vietnamese have successfully integrated into the resident country, the second and third generations of Vietnamese people are very successful in schools, especially young intellectuals. After observing their studies the German government believes that German pupils could learn a great deal from Vietnamese children’s fine work ethic.
These achievements affirm overseas Vietnamese’s status in terms of laws, politics and economics in Germany. In addition, more than 100 associations in Germany have joined together with the Vietnamese community to strengthen solidarity for mutual benefit.
The Vietnamese community, intellectuals, businesses and students have actively contacted the Vietnamese embassy and agencies in Germany to organise meaningful activities to strengthen links among Vietnamese communities living in neighboring nations around the world. I highlighted the important role of the Vietnamese community in Germany as a bridge for these activities.
Reporter: What do you think about the role of the press in general and VOV in particular in the spiritual life of Vietnamese residents in Germany?
Ambassador Anh: At present, the local media has developed rapidly and conveyed information regarding people’s cultural and social activities contributing to spiritual value.
In addition, the press has also disseminated the humane values and German society to the overseas Vietnamese community to help them integrate successfully.
I am a regular audience of VOV programs, especially VOV online which conveys information in a fast and up to date manner. VOV online translates foreign languages in a rapid and precise way.
In the digital era, this is the most effective approach. I would like to take this opportunity congratulate VOV on its future development and hope that there will be more foreign languages in VOV programs.
Reporter : In the lead up to the Lunar New Year 2014, could you tell us about activities of the Vietnamese embassy in Germany in helping overseas Vietnamese welcome Tet as well as preserving Vietnamese tradition and culture?
Ambassador Anh: We organised a ceremony for around 800 overseas Vietnamese to welcome Tet on January 25. We also invited German and international friends from embassies within ASEAN nations to attend the ceremony.
Berlin’s local authorities allowed us to organise the ceremony at the prestigious city hall. This highlighted the significance and presence of the Vietnamese community in Berlin in particular and Germany in general.
I would like to extend best wishes for the New Year to VOV audiences and wish overseas Vietnamese success, solidarity and development.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
