THE PRIME MINISTER

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To promulgate together with this Decision the Government's action program for implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of March 26, 2004 on overseas Vietnamese.

Article 2.- This Decision takes implementation effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 3.- The ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the Government-attached agencies and the presidents of the provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to implement this Decision. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall have to monitor and periodically report on the implementation of this program to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister
PHAN VAN KHAI

I. PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES

On March 26, 2004, the Politburo of the Central Committee of Vietnam Communist Party promulgated Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese. This Resolution is of very important significance for the entire Party and population; related to all branches, levels, localities and mass organizations; and serves as an orientation for the formulation of policies towards overseas Vietnamese in the coming time.

The Government adopted this action program, aiming to organize the successful implementation of the Politburo's above-said Resolution, contribute to bringing into play the strength of the national unity bloc, create favorable conditions for the community of overseas Vietnamese to stabilize their life, develop and preserve Vietnam's national identity, turn towards the Fatherland, and contribute to building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland for the attainment of the objective of a prosperous people, a strong nation and an equitable, democratic and civilized society.

II. PROGRAM' PRINCIPAL CONTENTS

1. Information and propagation work

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the Central Committee for Ideology and Culture, the Central Committee for Mass Agitation, the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas, the Central Committee for Sciences and Education, the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee as well as relevant ministries, branches, localities and mass organizations in disseminating the contents of the Politburo's Resolution and this action program.

b/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as ministries and branches shall take initiative in propagating and introducing the Party's and the State's undertakings and policies related to overseas Vietnamese on the mass media, among the Party's organizations, administrations, mass organizations and people of all strata at home and abroad.

c/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas in directing foreign-based Vietnamese representations and relevant organizations to take appropriate forms of introducing and disseminating the Resolution and this action program to the community of overseas Vietnamese, grasp and inform in time public opinions to the relevant agencies in the country.

d/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the concerned ministries and branches in introducing to international organizations and countries where Vietnamese people reside the Vietnamese Party's and State's undertakings and policies towards overseas Vietnamese.

e/ The ministries, branches and localities shall have to study and firmly grasp the contents of the Resolution and the action program, and on that basis, to formulate specific action programs of their respective ministries, branches and localities.

2. Measures and policies to create favorable conditions for, and support, overseas Vietnamese to stabilize their life and integrate themselves into the social life of the host countries

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the ministries, branches and localities in proposing undertakings, contents and modes of mobilizing administrations of the host countries to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese people to work and earn their living.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the ministries, branches and localities in conducting surveys and getting information on overseas Vietnamese for use as basis for proposing appropriate policies and measures in the work related to overseas Vietnamese.

b/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and branches in, taking initiative in conducting negotiations or signing, according to the State's current regulations, necessary bilateral and multilateral international treaties, including consular agreements and judicial support agreements, in order to create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to integrate themselves into the society of the host countries and protect their legitimate interests when such interests are infringed upon, combat manifestations of discrimination and activities against overseas Vietnamese or against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

c/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and branches in, reviewing legal documents related to the work of citizen protection before proposing the amendment, supplementation or elaboration thereof; study and formulate a scheme on citizen protection fund and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

d/ The ministries, branches and localities shall enhance the dissemination and propagation of the Party's and State's undertakings and policies, introduce customs, habits and laws of the host countries to Vietnamese citizens who go abroad for study, labor cooperation or marriage with foreigners in order to bring into play the sense of national dignity, preserve the national cultural identity and patriotism; and take initiative in protecting their legitimate interests. Immediately, in the first quarter of 2005, the Ministry of Justice shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee and mass organizations in, submitting to the Prime Minister an overall scheme on compilation and distribution of basic documents on the Party's and State's undertakings, policies and laws for overseas Vietnamese; introducing customs, habits and laws of a number of countries where many Vietnamese people are residing, studying or working, and the existing organizational structures of the Vietnamese community in a number of countries.

3. Creating favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to attach themselves more closely to the homeland

a/ The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the concerned ministries and branches in, reviewing in the IV^th quarter of 2004 the existing legal documents and policies related to the exit, entry, residence and repatriation of overseas Vietnamese; proposing the supplementation, amendment or elaboration of legal documents on such issues in the spirit of creating favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese, swimming with the integration trend while ensuring security and political and social stability for the cause of national construction and defense.

b/ The Ministry of Justice shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and branches in, reviewing in the IV^th quarter of 2004 relevant legal documents in order to propose measures to basically settle existing problems on nationality, inheritance, marriage and family,... which are related to overseas Vietnamese; settle in a fast and proper manner the overseas Vietnamese's requests to relinquish or restore the Vietnamese nationality.

c/ The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the concerned ministries and branches, and localities in, reviewing the implementation of the one-price policy for services and travel by overseas Vietnamese and their relatives when they return to the country in the recent past, synthesize and report thereon to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

d/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and branches in, studying and proposing the regularization of passports and personal papers of overseas Vietnamese as well as the use of papers by, or grant of papers to, returning overseas Vietnamese.

e/ The Ministry of Construction shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in, reviewing, amending or supplementing regulations and policies on permitting overseas Vietnamese to purchase and own dwelling houses associated with land-use right in Vietnam, and submitting them to the Government in the IV^th quarter of 2004.

4. Bringing into play the intellectual potential of overseas Vietnamese

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training as well as relevant ministries, branches and localities in, studying and elaborating proper preferential policies for overseas-Vietnamese experts and intellectuals who have high professional qualifications and are capable of making inventions or innovations or providing consultancy on management, operation and transfer of high technologies and techniques for the country, and submitting them to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2005.

b/ The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the State Bank of Vietnam and the General Department of Customs shall coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security in reviewing, amending or supplementing in the IV^th quarter of 2004 the current regulations issued by their respective ministries or branches, or elaborating new regulations and policies to create favorable conditions for scientific research, teaching and medical centers as well as production/service establishments of the State and other economic sectors to expand cooperation relations, employ overseas-Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in scientific-technological research and application, production, teaching, consultancy and coordination in relation with foreign partners.

c/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training as well as the concerned ministries, branches and localities in, studying and elaborating appropriate policies in order to encourage economic, scientific-technological, cultural-art, education-training and physical training-sport sectors to take initiative in attracting overseas-Vietnamese talents to participate in domestic affairs, and submit them to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2005.

d/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment as well as the concerned ministries and branches in, studying and elaborating policies to invite overseas-Vietnamese experts to work for Vietnam's programs and projects on bilateral and multilateral cooperation with foreign countries or for international organizations employing Vietnamese, and submit them to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2005.

5. Bringing into play the overseas Vietnamese's potential in economic cooperation, investment and business

a/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the concerned ministries and branches in, reviewing and evaluating in the IV^th quarter of 2004 the implementation of the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam, the Law on Domestic Investment Promotion and documents related to investment preference and support policies for overseas Vietnamese, and proposing solutions to further encouraging all forms of investment in Vietnam by overseas Vietnamese.

b/ The Ministry of Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in, studying and elaborating policies to encourage and bring into play the overseas Vietnamese's capability to act as brokers and links in establishing relations for the expansion of cooperation, investment and trade promotion with foreign companies, organizations and individuals, and submit them to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2005.

c/ The State Bank of Vietnam shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in, reviewing, supplementing or amending incentive policies, attracting foreign currencies, and submit them to the Prime Minister in the IV^th quarter of 2004.

6. Enhancing the information-culture work in service of the overseas Vietnamese community

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas shall coordinate with Vietnam Television Station and the Radio Voice of Vietnam in evaluating, improving, perfecting and raising the quality of television and radio programs for overseas Vietnamese, suitable to their psychologies and feelings; taking efficient measures to introduce programs to the Vietnamese communities in foreign countries; studying and proposing appropriate immediate and long-term forms of information for development of positive and progressive information channels in the countries where many Vietnamese people reside.

b/ The Ministry of Culture and Information shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Central Committee for Ideology and Culture as well as the concerned ministries and branches in, studying policies in support of publication of newspapers, journals and electronic websites for overseas Vietnamese.

c/ The Ministry of Culture and Information shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Central Committee for Ideology and Culture, the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in, studying and proposing the possibility of publishing newspapers and electronic websites in a number of countries where many Vietnamese people reside, and submit such to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2005; and building libraries on the Internet in service of overseas Vietnamese.

d/ The Ministry of Culture and Information shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned ministries and branches in, studying and building mechanisms to encourage domestic art troupes, singers and artists to organize performance tours in service of overseas Vietnamese as well as overseas-Vietnamese singers and artists to return to the country for performances; publishing and distributing at home a number of cultural products of the overseas Vietnamese community in accordance with the regulations on publication.

e/ The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Transport in, reviewing and evaluating in the IV^th quarter of 2004 the results of implementation of the price-subsidy policy for charges of transporting cultural products and air tickets for art troupes making performance tours in service of the overseas Vietnamese community over the past time, and make necessary proposals.

7. Vietnamese language teaching and learning for young overseas Vietnamese

In furtherance of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 281/QD-TTg of March 22, 2004 approving the scheme in support of the Vietnamese language teaching and learning for overseas Vietnamese, in the third quarter of 2004, the Ministry of Education and Training shall set up the Scheme Management Board with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Government Office, the Radio Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television Station and other relevant agencies for implementation of the scheme in 2004, 2005 and subsequent years, covering the following principal activities:

- Investigating and surveying the Vietnamese language teaching and learning demands of the overseas Vietnamese community.

- Elaborating curricula, compiling and distributing the Vietnamese language teaching and learning documents, coordinating with the concerned ministries and agencies in guiding the Vietnamese language teaching and learning by mode of correspondence via television, radio, the Internet and magnetic discs.

- Fostering the Vietnamese language teachers for overseas Vietnamese.

- Supporting the Vietnamese language teaching for overseas Vietnamese at centers, culture houses and schools of Vietnamese people's associations or other foreign-based educational establishments, which organize the Vietnamese language teaching and learning.

8. Intensifying activities of exchange between Vietnamese people at home and overseas Vietnamese

a/ Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam Association of Youth Unions and Vietnam Students' Association shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned ministries, branches and localities in, regularly organizing exchange programs on sports, culture, literature, arts, back-to-the root tours, Vietnamese language-speaking summer camps between Vietnamese youth at home and overseas Vietnamese youth.

b/ The Committee for Physical Training and Sports shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned ministries and branches in, carrying out necessary procedures for overseas Vietnamese to return home for participation in domestic physical training and sport activities, and carrying out procedures for naturalization in Vietnam for overseas Vietnamese athletics who record outstanding achievements and wish to join Vietnamese sport teams to attend regional and international games and tournaments.

9. Policies on commending and/or rewarding overseas Vietnamese

a/ The State Emulation and Commendation Institute shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas in, reviewing and evaluating the commendation of overseas Vietnamese over the past time; disseminating, guiding and propagating the State's current regulations on emulation and commendation to overseas-Vietnamese organizations and individuals in order to actively contribute to mobilizing overseas Vietnamese to make human and material contributions to the national construction; and at the same time, take appropriate forms of commending and/or rewarding foreign organizations and individuals who support, protect and help overseas Vietnamese.

b/ The ministries, branches, localities and foreign-based Vietnamese representations shall have to discover and introduce to the State (through the State Emulation and Commendation Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) the overseas-Vietnamese organizations and individuals that make numerous contributions to the cause of construction and defense of the Vietnamese Fatherland in order to take appropriate commendation forms.

10. Continuing to renovate modes of mobilizing overseas Vietnamese

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee in, studying, formulating and supporting new mobilization modes, encouraging all forms of rallying overseas Vietnamese, with special attention paid to activities of young generations, on the basis of voluntarism and accordance with laws as well as customs and practices of the host countries. To support overseas Vietnamese's projects with the above-said objectives.

b/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the Caucus Commission for Party organizations overseas in directing foreign-based Vietnamese representations to enhance contacting, mobilizing, propagating and disseminating the Party's and the State's undertakings and policies to, overseas Vietnamese, stepping up the work of citizen protection and protecting the legitimate interests of overseas Vietnamese.

c/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee in propagating and mobilizing overseas Vietnamese to respond to and participate in mass movements and mobilizations, and at the same time, review the work of mobilizing overseas Vietnamese and report thereon to the Prime Minister in the third quarter of 2004; study and propose measures to bring into play the role and develop the organizational structure of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese and other rallying forms along the direction of socializing the work of mobilizing overseas Vietnamese.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the ministries and branches shall regularly consult the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee and the Front's member organizations in considering, amending, supplementing or promulgating legal documents and policies related to overseas Vietnamese.

d/ The Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in making budget estimates in the third quarter of 2004 for the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese in order to perform the political tasks in the new situation.

11. Organizational consolidation

a/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs in, studying and proposing undertakings and measures to consolidate the organizational structure of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, increase payrolls for the work for overseas Vietnamese at diplomatic representations in the countries where many Vietnamese people reside, and submit them to competent agencies for consideration and decision.

b/ The ministries, branches, provinces and cities which have ties with many overseas Vietnamese shall set up sections assisting the leading agencies in the work for overseas Vietnamese.

c/ To propose Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee and the Front's member organizations to consolidate, strengthen and enhance their organizational apparatuses in order to meet the increasing requirements of the work for overseas Vietnamese in the coming time.

c/ After a given period of implementing this action program, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and agencies in, gathering comments from overseas Vietnamese, synthesize them and propose the Government to organize a conference to evaluate, and draw experiences from, the implementation of this program for continued implementation in the subsequent years.

The ministries, the ministerial-level agencies, the Government-attached agencies and the provincial/municipal People's Committees shall base themselves on this action program of the Government and the practical situation of each ministry, branch and locality to immediately organize the implementation of the Politburo's Resolution on renewing policies and work of mobilizing overseas Vietnamese.

Prime Minister
PHAN VAN KHAI