(VNF) - Vietnam’s Honorary Consulate was inaugurated in Nouvelle Caledonie (New Caledonia), France on October 5^th with Dinh Jean-Pierre as its Honorary Consul General.

At the inauguration ceremony of the Vietnam’s Honorary Consulate in New Caledonia. (Photo: VNA)

At the inauguration ceremony, Consul General in Sydney Hoang Minh Son said the establishment aims to unite Vietnamese expatriates in New Caledonia and help them contact the local administrations if problems occur.

He said Dinh Jean-Pierre was appointed Honorary Consul General for his contributions to consolidating the unity of local Vietnamese, boosting Vietnam-France ties and promoting the Vietnamese language and culture among young generations in New Caledonia.

The diplomat said he hopes the newly-appointed Honorary Counsul will continue to work for the Vietnamese community and help bring the Vietnamese Government’s policies to expatriates.

Dinh Jean-Pierre expressed his honour to receive the title and vowed to do his utmost to further tighten the solidarity between overseas Vietnamese and the home land.

French High Commissioner for New Caledonia Thierry Lataste also spoke highly of the Vietnamese community in his speech, describing them as hard-working and contributors to the local economy.

The first Vietnamese reached New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France, in 1891, gradually forming the close-knit community seen today. Honorary Consul General Dinh Jean-Pierre is also head of the Vietnam friendship association on the island.

New Caledonia, a special collectivity of France, is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean more than 1,200 km east of Australia. Close to 4,000 Vietnamese are living there.

Other countries that have established honorary consulates in New Caledonia are German, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Japan./.

( Compiled by VNF )