Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh proposed that Poland officially recognize the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority during his meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday afternoon (local time) as part of his official visit to the European country.

President Duda emphasized Vietnam's importance as a key partner in Southeast Asia and expressed Poland’s desire to deepen cooperation across various sectors.

The two top leaders agreed to facilitate market access for goods from both countries and to encourage Polish businesses to invest in Vietnam’s key sectors such as digital transformation, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and manufacturing.

President Duda affirmed his support for Poland’s ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement.

Highlighting the contributions of the approximately 30,000-strong Vietnamese community in Poland, President Duda welcomed Vietnam’s decision to waive visas for Polish citizens in 2025, believing it would boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Poland, January 16, 2025. Photo: Doan Bac

PM Chinh thanked Poland for its support of the Vietnamese community and expressed hope that the community would soon be recognized as an official minority group, enabling deeper integration and greater contributions to Polish society.

Later that evening, PM Chinh, accompanied by his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran and the Vietnamese delegation, met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Poland. 

The event was also attended by some Polish citizens including Franciszek Zwierzynski and Ho Chi Dung.

Franciszek Zwierzynski is a veteran who participated in ceasefire committees in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Dung is a son of Stefan Kubiak, a Polish-Jewish soldier who quitted the French army to join the Vietnamese army and was later adopted and named Ho Chi Toan by President Ho Chi Minh.

During the meeting, community members raised issues such as regaining Vietnamese citizenship, teaching Vietnamese in Polish schools, and promoting Vietnamese culture. 

They also reiterated the call for official recognition as an ethnic minority in Poland.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Chinh meets with Vietnamese expatriates in Poland, January 16, 2025. Photo: Doan Bac

PM Chinh addressed various proposals of the Vietnamese community, pledging to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to review nationality-related regulations.

He assigned the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the Vietnamese Embassy and Polish authorities to introduce Vietnamese as a foreign language in Polish schools.

The Vietnamese government leader urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to consider increasing funding for the Vietnamese community’s cultural activities and heritage events abroad.

He reiterated his discussion with top Polish leaders regarding minority recognition, urging the Vietnamese community to actively support these efforts.

He also tasked the Ministry of Science and Technology to study and revise regulations supporting scientific research projects, including those conducted by overseas Vietnamese, to leverage intellectual resources for national development.

The top Vietnamese official asked the Ministry of Public Security and relevant units to address issues linked to ID cards while encouraging community members to keep giving their feedback on the issue.

PM Chinh expressed enthusiasm for enhancing cultural exchanges between both nations, emphasizing the importance of culture as both the soul of the nation and a driver of development. 

He called for scholarships and increased collaboration in arts and heritage promotion, given Poland’s rich cultural history.

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