Adoption of the Resolution Letter at the 3rd Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Nghe An Province

Panorama of the Congress. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Attending the Congress, on the Central leadership side, there was comrade Hoang Thi Hanh - Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee.

On the provincial leadership side, there were comrades: Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Van Thong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; comrades of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, members of the Provincial Party Executive Committee and representatives of departments, branches, unions and localities. Especially, there was the participation of 249 delegates representing more than 490,000 ethnic minorities of Nghe An province.

Also attending the Congress were former provincial leaders, leaders of western Nghe An districts through different periods; delegations from Xieng Khouang province (Laos) and delegates from Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh...

Delegates attending the Congress solemnly salute the flag. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Change towards comprehensive development

Opening the Congress, on behalf of the Presidium, comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the 3rd Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Nghe An Province - 2019 was conducted uniformly from the district-level congress, creating a broad political activity in social life, contributing to raising awareness of the cause of great national unity and ethnic work.

Western Nghe An is a region with a particularly important strategic position in terms of economy, politics, national defense and security. In recent years, with the attention of the Party and the State, the leadership of Party committees at all levels, the management and administration of local authorities and the solidarity of ethnic minorities, the socio-economic situation of the Western region of the province has gradually stabilized and developed.

The Presidium of the Congress. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The political report at the Congress showed that the economy of the Western region shifted in the right direction and grew well; the average income per capita in 2018 reached 29.09 million VND; the poverty rate decreased by an average of 3-4%.

Infrastructure serving socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security has been invested in and built. The quality and effectiveness of education have been gradually improved. The cultural values ​​and identities of ethnic groups have been preserved and promoted.

Graphics: Huu Quan

In addition, the grassroots political system is increasingly consolidated and operates effectively, managing and operating well the political tasks at the grassroots level. National defense is consolidated and maintained, political security is stable, social order and safety are ensured.

The friendly relationship between the ethnic minorities of Nghe An province and the Lao ethnic groups is increasingly sustainable; the border area is stable in all aspects. The Party and State's policies and guidelines for ethnic minorities are well organized and effectively implemented.

Comrade Luong Thanh Hai - Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee affirmed: "The Western region is increasingly changing towards comprehensive development. The material and spiritual life of ethnic minorities is increasingly improved; the people's trust in the Party and the State at all levels is increasingly deepened".

Suspension bridge over Lam River, through Con Cuong town. Photo: Sach Nguyen

Live near the forest but

Not availableincomestability from the forest

At the Congress, delegates frankly acknowledged a number of limitations in implementing the goals, targets and tasks of socio-economic development in Western Nghe An in recent times.

Accordingly, the lives of the people are still difficult, people cannot create stable income or sustainable livelihoods in their homeland, cannot overcome difficulties in terrain, traffic, weather, soil... therefore, many people of working age go to work far away, in the villages, most of them are elderly and children.

Ethnic minorities live near the forest but do not have a stable income from the forest. The closer they live to the special-use forest, the poorer they become.

Infrastructure is still lacking and weak, not meeting development requirements. Up to now, in the Western region, there are still 9 communes without car roads to the commune center; more than 300 villages do not have national grid electricity; many villages do not have mobile phone signal... Social services such as health care, communication, goods supply... have not met the requirements.

7/27 targets are difficult to achieve

Notably, of the 27 main economic, social and environmental targets by 2020 stated in the Resolution Letter at the 2nd Congress of Ethnic Minorities in 2014, 20 targets are forecast to be achieved and exceeded, 7 targets are difficult to achieve. In particular, of the 7 targets that are difficult to achieve, there are 4 economic targets:growth rate;Average GRDP per capita/year; ceconomic structure and budget revenue in the area.

The Congress also agreed on the general objectives for ethnic work in the coming time. That is to continue to implement synchronously and effectively; combine reasonable and effective exploitation of potentials and strengths in agricultural, forestry and tourism development; promote economic development, ensure social security; reduce poverty quickly and sustainably, reduce the income gap compared to developed regions; gradually narrow down particularly difficult areas, significantly improve people's lives...

Along with that, increase investment in resources of the State and economic sectors to build a synchronous, inter-regional economic-social infrastructure system connecting with developed regions; strengthen international cooperation, attract investment resources for the region; promote the development of education, training, health care, culture to improve the quality of cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers who are ethnic minorities...

Graphics: Huu Quan

At the Congress, delegates also presented many practical papers, raised and analyzed many socio-economic issues; mass mobilization work; promoting the role of village elders, village chiefs, prestigious people... in patriotic emulation movements.

Comrade Hoang Thi Hanh - Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee spoke at the Congress. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Speaking at the congress, Comrade Hoang Thi Hanh - Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements that ethnic minorities in Nghe An province have achieved in recent times. She also stated that the difficulties in implementing ethnic work in Nghe An are also difficulties in implementing ethnic policies of the whole country. To solve this problem, Resolution 01 of the Government in January 2019 assigned the Ethnic Committee to advise on the development of a master plan for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The plan was approved by the Prime Minister and members of the Government to submit to the National Assembly in October 2019 to become a national target program.

Authorized by the Prime Minister, Vice Chairwoman of the Ethnic Committee Hoang Thi Hanh and Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh presented the Prime Minister's Certificate of Merit to 1 collective and 1 individual. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh presented the Congress with a banner from the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province bearing the words: "Ethnic minorities of Nghe An province unite, promote internal strength, integrate and develop." Photo: Thanh Cuong

On this occasion, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province presented a banner with the words: "Ethnic minorities of Nghe An province unite, promote internal strength, integrate and develop". The Provincial People's Committee also presented Certificates of Merit to 13 groups and 23 individuals.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Son and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong presented Certificates of Merit to collectives and individuals. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Congress also approved the Resolution Letter at the 3rd Congress of Ethnic Minorities in 2019 and unanimously elected 42 delegates to attend the 2nd National Congress of Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam in 2020.