The delegation comprised 32 exemplary prestigious people representing 295 prestigious people from ethnic minority communities across the province.

Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thông speaks at the reception

At the reception, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Quang Tri province Nguyễn Thị Lài delivered a brief report outlining the results of the implementation of ethnic policies and policies for prestigious people in ethnic minority communities in the province.

Quảng Trị province was established through the merger of the former Quảng Trị and Quảng Bình provinces. Its ethnic minority and mountainous areas cover 7,757 square kilometres, accounting for 61.08 per cent of the province’s total natural area. The principal ethnic minority groups include the Bru-Vân Kiều, comprising the Vân Kiều, Khùa, Ma Coong and Trì groups; the Chứt, comprising the Sách, Mày, Rục, Arem and Mã Liềng groups; and the Tà Ôi, mainly the Pa Cô group. Other ethnic groups include the Mường, Thổ, Tày, Nùng and Thái.

In recent years, the implementation of ethnic policies, particularly the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021–2030 period, known as Program 1719, with Phase I running from 2021 to 2025, has generated positive and comprehensive impacts on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Notable results include gradual improvements in people’s material and spiritual well-being and incomes; increased investment in socio-economic infrastructure; progress in education, healthcare and culture; improvements in the quality of ethnic minority officials; the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural identities; greater attention to gender equality and the well-being of women and children; the strengthening of grassroots political systems; and the maintenance of security, social order and safety.

These policies have not only provided support for livelihoods, infrastructure, housing, domestic water supply, education and healthcare, but have also helped strengthen ethnic minority communities’ confidence in the Party and the State and consolidate the great national unity bloc.

Deputy Director of the Quảng Trị Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyễn Thị Lài speaks at the reception

At the reception, delegates representing prestigious people from ethnic minority communities across the province raised a number of proposals and recommendations concerning residential and production land; employment for ethnic minority students returning to their localities after graduating from universities and colleges; infrastructure such as rural roads, bridges serving local communities and domestic water supply systems in remote villages; policies and entitlements for prestigious people; and the preservation of cultural values in ethnic minority areas.

A representative of prestigious people speaks at the reception

Addressing the reception, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thông provided an overview of the system of agencies responsible for ethnic affairs from the central to local levels.

The Deputy Minister underscored the position and role of prestigious people and highly appreciated the significant contributions made by prestigious people across the province. Over the past years, they have served as a trusted source of support for Party committees and local authorities and as a “strong bridge” between the Party’s will and the people’s aspirations.

With a strong sense of responsibility, exemplary conduct and personal standing, prestigious people have spared no effort in reaching out to local households, encouraging ethnic minority communities to develop their livelihoods and reduce poverty; eliminate outdated customs; preserve and promote fine ethnic cultural identities; mediate disputes at the grassroots level; and help build a firm people’s security posture in border areas.

To provide timely encouragement and support, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs is urgently working on proposals for a Government decree on prestigious people, with a view to strengthening the policy framework, increasing support levels and providing more comprehensive material and spiritual support for them.

Deputy Minister Y Thông also asked the provincial Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs to continue the thorough implementation of the Party’s guidelines and to ensure that policies and entitlements for prestigious people are implemented fully, promptly, for eligible beneficiaries and in accordance with the law.

Particular attention, he said, should be paid to training and information provision, creating favourable conditions for prestigious people to perform their roles, and providing timely encouragement and recognition so that they can make the fullest possible contribution.

Deputy Minister Y Thông expressed his hope and confidence that prestigious people would maintain their enthusiasm and draw on their experience and knowledge of local customs and practices to further strengthen their role as “exemplary pioneers”.

He called on them to continue serving as positive forces inspiring ethnic minority communities to embrace self-reliance and strive for better lives; work alongside Party committees and local authorities to maintain peace and security and develop prosperous and thriving villages; and effectively implement the Party’s guidelines and policies and the State’s laws, including the policy on reorganising villages and hamlets, including thôn, bản, phum and sóc, towards a more streamlined and effective structure.

Deputy Minister Y Thông presents gifts to exemplary prestigious people in Quảng Trị province