Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, Le Hong Vinh, works with the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions.

Attending the meeting were Comrade Phung Thanh Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Committee Office and various departments and agencies.

The leadership of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion includes Comrade Vi Văn Sơn - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department, and other leaders of the Department.

TThe ethnic and religious situation in the area is becoming increasingly stable.

The Nghe An Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions was established and began operations on March 1, 2025, based on the Ethnic Affairs Committee taking over the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of state management of religion from the Department of Internal Affairs.

The Department inherits the achievements of its predecessor agencies and continues to perform the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in the state management of ethnic and religious affairs.

The ethnic minority areas of Nghe An province cover an area of ​​13,745 square kilometers.², occupying 83% of the natural area; population of nearly 1.2 million people, of which ethnic minorities account for more than 507,500 people, representing 13.24% of the total provincial population, comprising 47 ethnic minority groups.

From July 1, 2025, the ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province have not yet been redefined according to the new administrative units. However, corresponding to the old areas, the new commune-level administrative units in this region comprise 62 communes.

The assessment at the meeting showed that the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has advised on many mechanisms and policies, and directed and managed the implementation of tasks in the field of ethnic affairs and ethnic policies; focusing on the implementation of the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period 2021-2025 with 10 component projects.

Accordingly, the program's investment capital is contributing to a positive transformation of the landscape in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province: improving transportation infrastructure, schools, health stations, electricity grids, and clean water supply.

In particular, investment and support programs directly related to the people have yielded positive results, creating livelihoods, improving education levels, and making a significant contribution to preserving and promoting the fine cultural identity of ethnic minority communities.

The material and spiritual lives of the people have improved significantly, rising year by year. Notably, the poverty reduction rate among ethnic minorities has averaged over 3% annually, meeting the target; the average per capita income at the end of 2024 reached approximately 38.4 million VND.

In addition, Nghe An is also a locality with a large number of religious followers, most notably two major religions: Catholicism with approximately 300,000 followers and Buddhism with approximately 170,000 followers.

Over the years, the predecessor agencies and the current Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion have effectively advised Party committees and government authorities on the development and promulgation of policies and legal documents on beliefs and religions.

At the same time, the Department is stepping up its efforts to disseminate the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws; organizing the implementation of relevant policies and laws; conducting theoretical research and summarizing practical experiences in this field…

Through these activities, ethnic minority and religious communities in the province have united, trusted in the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations, actively engaged in production, strived to achieve legitimate wealth, and gradually improved their material and spiritual lives.

During the meeting, leaders of departments and agencies exchanged views on issues related to their respective areas of responsibility, coordination with the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion to develop the socio-economic conditions of ethnic minority and mountainous areas; religious affairs; and especially the implementation of component projects of the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2021-2025 period.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phung Thanh Vinh acknowledged the achievements in the areas under the Department's responsibility. Despite numerous objective and subjective factors, and the limited number of staff working on ethnic and religious affairs, the situation regarding ethnic groups and religions in the province has become increasingly stable, preventing the emergence of any "hot spots".

Pointing out some existing shortcomings and limitations, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phung Thanh Vinh requested the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions to focus on four key tasks: promptly advising on the consolidation of the local government apparatus at two levels, especially in the field of ethnic minorities and religions, according to the vertical system, coupled with organizing training based on the principle of "hands-on guidance"; and simultaneously reviewing and supplementing functions and tasks to be appropriate and closely aligned with the assigned staffing levels and assigning specific responsibilities.

The comrade also requested the Department to coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee on effectively implementing foreign affairs with Laos; to synthesize realistic needs, gather full opinions, and propose to the Central Government the funding for the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2026-2030, so that after approval, it can be effectively implemented.

Providing the best possible care for the material and spiritual well-being of our people.

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - acknowledged the positive results achieved by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs sector in the past period; especially in the context of the significant state management work in this field, which directly relates to the lives, customs, cultural practices, and freedom of belief of a large segment of the people of Nghe An.

Based on an analysis of the context, situation, advantages, difficulties, and challenges, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh outlined the key priorities for the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion in the coming period.

First, he suggested that the roles of village elders, religious leaders, and heads of religious organizations must be clearly defined so that they can coordinate effectively in carrying out the task of state management.

The head of the Provincial People's Committee also requested continued efforts to disseminate and promote the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws on ethnic and religious affairs to all officials, civil servants, and citizens throughout the province; especially to regularly update, disseminate, and effectively implement new resolutions and directives, particularly those related to the implementation of the two-level local government.

At the same time, it is necessary to continue to effectively manage state affairs, manage resources, develop infrastructure, and ensure that education and healthcare are carried out rigorously, with sustainable and long-term solutions.

The Department also needs to be more proactive in reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of current policies; advising on practical solutions that are appropriate to the local conditions, in order to remove difficulties and obstacles in implementing policies for ethnic minorities and people in mountainous areas.

We will coordinate closely with relevant departments and agencies to develop specific proposals for better management of religious activities, ensuring compliance with the law and the legitimate religious needs of the people.

Regarding organizational structure and personnel matters, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee instructed the Department to review its functions, tasks, and powers in order to coordinate with the Department of Internal Affairs to research and advise on decisions specifying the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department and the commune level.

In conjunction with that, continue to review and strengthen the contingent of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, especially those working in state management of religious affairs; and enhance training and professional development for cadres at all levels.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasized that the Department needs to focus on monitoring the situation at the grassroots level and in external relations; regularly monitor the local area, proactively gather information, promptly detect and advise on resolving emerging issues, and prevent the emergence of hotspots.

With particular attention to the livelihoods, housing, and education of ethnic minorities, Comrade Le Hong Vinh emphasized that officials and staff of the Department need to fully understand the thoughts and aspirations of the people, aiming to best care for their material and spiritual lives; considering this as a fundamental solution; and at the same time, coordinate and advise the province on the implementation of tasks, especially the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2026-2030, ensuring it aligns with the requirements and scope of the program.

Simultaneously, it is necessary to consolidate and build a strong political system, focusing on improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and local governments; caring for and strengthening national defense and security; and promoting the patriotic spirit and solidarity traditions of ethnic minorities and religious communities to participate in building the homeland.

The comrade also requested the Department to effectively implement campaigns to mobilize public support for projects, especially key national projects passing through the province, starting with the North-South high-speed railway line…

Before concluding the working session, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh expressed his confidence that, with a spirit of unity, responsibility, and close coordination, the leadership, officials, and staff of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion would clearly define their roles and responsibilities, maximize their capabilities, and effectively perform their functions in managing state affairs related to ethnic minorities and religion, contributing to maintaining political stability, consolidating national unity, and promoting socio-economic development in the province.