Worthy of being the flags for people to follow (*)

Comrade Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee spoke at the 3rd Conference to honor prestigious people among ethnic minorities in Nghe An province in 2021. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Dear delegates representing prestigious people among ethnic minorities of Nghe An province!

I am very pleased to attend this important and meaningful conference. First of all, on behalf of the provincial leaders, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the contributions and contributions of the prestigious people in the ethnic minorities of Nghe An province in the period of 2019 - 2021. And during this period, Nghe An has recognized and commended more than 3,700 prestigious people.

Dear delegates, dear guests!

Thanks to the attention of the Party and State to mountainous areas and ethnic minorities, in recent years, mechanisms and policies have been effectively implemented; the essential infrastructure system has been increasingly improved and perfected.

The conditions for production and life of the people in mountainous areas are getting better and better, the appearance of rural and urban areas in mountainous areas has changed a lot. Many effective economic models and poverty reduction models have appeared; the poverty rate has decreased to 22.43% in 2020; the number of communes in region 3 has decreased from 106 in 2021 to 76; the number of extremely difficult villages and hamlets has decreased from 1,182 to nearly 590 in 2021. In particular, the fine traditional cultural identity values ​​of ethnic groups have been preserved and promoted. National defense and security, especially border security, have been firmly ensured.

The conference was attended by 190 delegates who are prestigious representatives of ethnic minorities in the 2019-2021 period. Photo: Thanh Quynh

For a long time, the ethnic minority areas in Nghe An have always been believed to be strong bases for national defense and security. This is also an area that has carried out the local patriotic emulation movement well, without any complications related to the issue of solidarity between the ethnic groups living together in the area. More than 40 ethnic groups live together but there has never been any conflict between the ethnic communities in Nghe An. This is something the province is very confident and proud of.

Compared to some other mountainous provinces, the ethnic minority areas of Nghe An province have very proud developments, especially in technical infrastructure, security and order. In that common achievement, there are very important contributions from prestigious people. They are truly important factors, the support, the bridge between the Party, the government and ethnic minorities - the very difficult communities in the mountains. Prestigious people are those who are always at the forefront of patriotic emulation movements, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, Party building and the political system at the grassroots level as well as in applying scientific and technical advances to agricultural production; in promoting and preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups associated with movements to eliminate backward customs, actively building new rural areas, building an increasingly progressive cultural life in residential areas, contributing to building the great solidarity bloc of the entire nation in the area.

In the border area, the team of prestigious people has worked with all levels, sectors, and forces, especially the Provincial Border Guard, to actively propagate and mobilize people to build a strong locality, effectively fight against social evils, firmly protect national sovereignty and border security; ensure and promote foreign affairs between Nghe An and neighboring Lao provinces that share the border.

The team of prestigious people always takes the lead in implementing the Party's policies and the State's laws; mobilizing people to apply scientific and technical advances in production. Photo: Thanh Quynh

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee, I warmly commend and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of all levels, sectors, localities, and especially the prestigious delegates and people of ethnic minorities in the province in the past time.

The living area of ​​ethnic minorities in Nghe An province has very special features. Firstly, it is associated with a border of about 468 km. Associated with the border is a historical, long-standing, and regular relationship with the tribes of neighboring Laos. This area also has a very large, rich, and diverse natural ecosystem. This is also a solid revolutionary base in history, and is currently an important defense area of ​​the country. Here, ethnic minorities have lived together for generations in brotherhood and compatriotism. This is an issue that the provincial leaders are very confident and proud of.

In reality, the implementation of the tasks of protecting the security of the Fatherland, the ecological environment and ensuring economic development and foreign affairs of Nghe An depends largely on the implementation of the regimes and policies on mountainous areas and ethnic groups of the political system as well as the consensus of people living in the Western and border areas.

Nghe An is focusing on implementing the project of building new rural areas in the border area. Photo courtesy of Sach Nguyen

In the past and the coming time, the province has paid special attention to key tasks such as: protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, building a peaceful and friendly border, and strengthening the Vietnam - Laos brotherhood; consolidating the great national unity bloc; promoting the advantages of the region for economic development. Western Nghe An is a very potential region, which will be a key point for the province to develop the economy to implement the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress. The task is to continue to improve and raise the living standards of the people both materially and spiritually, in which, paying attention to building unique and diverse cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups living together in the area in a unified body to build and develop, promoting Vietnamese cultural values.

Such an important task further demonstrates the role of people living in mountainous areas, especially those with prestige. From a certain perspective, prestigious people can be compared to the leading birds, the “tua thor”, “thor chor” for the Mong people; and the “nai” for the Thai people - that is, the leaders of the community.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to 8 outstanding individuals. Photo: Thanh Cuong

At this conference, I would like to discuss two issues, two wishes of the provincial leaders as well as individuals:

The first, for the delegates, prestigious people among the ethnic minorities of Nghe An province need to continue to promote their role to the highest level in daily life, thereby, encouraging and guiding people to effectively participate in patriotic emulation movements in the area. The role and image of prestigious people must be present in every corner of life, in every situation in the village. If there are any difficulties or problems in the community, the prestigious people honored today will be the address for people in the village, commune, and community to seek help and advice. Especially, in patriotic emulation movements, prestigious people must be like flags for people to act and follow.

Representatives of the Provincial Ethnic Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to individuals with outstanding achievements in performing the role of prestigious people among ethnic minorities. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Monday, for the Party committees, authorities, and political systems at all levels, I hope that you will pay close attention, be close to, and understand the people, and create conditions to promote the role of typical prestigious people in the best way. The attention is not only shown in the regime and policies but also in spiritual encouragement. Especially, it is necessary to strengthen the training of knowledge and skills in propaganda and mass mobilization for the team of prestigious people, village elders, and village chiefs in the community.

Promote the supervisory and critical role of this team so that they can demonstrate their responsibility in the work of building the Party and the grassroots political system in the best way. It is recommended that Party committees and authorities at all levels pay close attention to promoting the role of prestigious people in implementing the goals of gradually reducing the development gap between ethnic groups in the area. If we neglect and lack attention to this issue, the development gap will become larger and larger. And thus, the goal of great national unity that we are implementing will be seriously affected. We need to make efforts, through many solutions, to reduce the gap between ethnic minorities, as well as communities living in mountainous areas compared to other regions as quickly as possible.

(*) Title by Nghe An Newspaper.