On Wednesday, the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs coordinated with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold a ceremony in the city to award Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to two Vietnamese expatriates in recognition of their positive contributions to the city’s growth.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs cum Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (centre) award Certificatse of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mrs. Cecile Le Pham (2nd, right) and Mr. Bao Hoa (first, left) for their positive contributions to the city's socio-economic development. Photo: T.PHUONG

They are Mrs. Cecile Le Pham, a Vietnamese expat in France, and Mr. Bao Hoa, a Vietnamese expat in the US.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs cum Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang highly lauded the two Vietnamese expatriates for their great dedication and contribution to the city.

She took the opportunity to ask the honourees to continue their efforts to contribute to their hometown and their home country in all fields, support the development of Da Nang in particular and Viet Nam in general, and as well as spread the values of love and concern of the Party and State to other expatriates.

Over the past years, Mrs. Cecile Le Pham, CEO of the Dacotex Da Nang Co., Ltd. has sponsored the funding for nurturing, managing and caring for orphans at the Hoa Mai Orphanage Center. Every year, she gives Tet gifts to children of Agent Orange at the city’s Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and sponsors many necessities for pandemic-affected people.

Mr. Bao Hoa, CEO of the Vinatech Connect Da Nang Co., Ltd. has got actively involved in promoting the image of the city to the overseas Vietnamese community through participation in large-scale sports events such as Ironman 70.3 in 2017 and 2018, and Da Nang International Marathon 2018. Also, he has acted a bridge to connect and introduce the Intex Industries Company and the Unitex Wan Guan Technology Co., Ltd. to invest in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park.

On behalf of Vietnamese expatriates, Mr. Bao Hoa said emotionally that it is his responsibility to contribute a small part of his efforts to the construction and development of Viet Nam. Therefore, it is honour for him, and all Vietnamese expatriates around the world, to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Most of the overseas Vietnamese live far away, but they all have special feelings for the country, always wanting to contribute to the construction of their homeland and country.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG