Hanoi (VNA) – Thesecond national congress of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups fulfilled itsagenda and concluded on December 4 afternoon.

At a press conference following the event,Director of the communications division at the Government’s Committee forEthnic Minority Affairs Hoang Thi Le said the congress from December 2 to 4reviewed achievements in the implementation of policies for ethnic minoritiesbetween 2010 and 2020 so as to learn lessons, continue fine-tuning thepolicies, and issue orientations, targets, tasks, and solutions for ethnicminority affairs for the next 10 years.

The congress saw the presence of 1,592 delegateswho are outstanding representatives of ethnic groups from across Vietnam, shesaid, noting that a delegation of 54 delegates from the 54 ethnic groups in thecountry had offered incense at the Hung Kings Temple to pay tribute to theancestors who founded and defended the country. They had also visited thePresident Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to commemorate the one who, together with theParty, built up the great national unity bloc.

On behalf of the Party, State, and VietnamFatherland Front, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is also head of theCentral Emulation and Rewards Council, delivered a key speech and presented thefirst-class Labour Order to the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs.

Thirty-eight collectives and 58 individuals withexcellent performance were honoured with noble rewards from the Party andState, thereby encouraging ethnic minority people to join hands with peoplenationwide in national development and safeguarding, according to Le.

Deputy Minister, Vice Chairwoman of theCommittee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Hoang Thi Hanh said the congressfulfilled its agenda and was successful.

Opinions raised at the event shared the viewthat over the last 10 years, under the Party and State’s resolve as well aswith all-level authorities and sectors’ drastic moves, the implementation ofethnic minority affairs and related policies has reaped significant andcomprehensive outcomes in all aspects.

Delegates held that ethnic minority groups haveenjoyed improvement in both material and spiritual lives while local politicalsystems have been consolidated, which are crucial factors for sustainabledevelopment in ethnic minority areas and help them engage in the wholecountry’s integration and development process, Hanh added.

The congress also adopted a document expressingethnic minorities’ determination to exert efforts to contribute to nationaldevelopment.

Vietnam is home to 14.2 million people of ethnic minority groups out of its total population of 95.5 million./.