The 4th Congress of Ethnic Minority Groups of Hoa Binh province was successfully held on November 15 at the provincial Culture Centre.

The event drew the attendance of Y Vinh Tor, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister-Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, as well as provincial leaders such as Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Binh, Bui Duc Hinh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, and Bui Van Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

The congress gathered 250 delegates, representing more than 650,000 ethnic minorities across the province, along with leaders of other provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Son La, Phu Tho, and Bac Giang.

In his opening speech, Bui Van Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that the congress not only aims to review and assess the achievements of ethnic affairs, the implementation of ethnic policies, the development of infrastructure, poverty reduction, and the building of new rural areas during the 2019-2024 period, but also provided an opportunity to further strengthen the great national unity bloc and enhance ethnic minorities' trust in the leadership of the Party and the government.

He urged delegates to share their ideas on effective policies for ethnic communities and ensure continued progress in the province’s development, and called for further efforts to improve the living standards and socio-economic conditions of ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh.

According to a political report presented at the congress, Hoa Binh has seen significant achievements from 2019 to 2024 across various sectors. Notable progress has been made in Party building, economic growth, poverty reduction, education, and healthcare. The average income of people in the province reached 69.77 million VND (2,747 USD) per capita in 2023, a significant increase compared to previous years. Furthermore, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities in rural areas decreased from 16.52% in 2021 to 9.8% in 2023, with many remote villages achieving "new-style rural” status.

Y Vinh Tor, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister-Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, acknowledged the remarkable progress made by Hoa Binh's ethnic communities, attributing it to the leadership of the provincial authorities and the determination of the people. He called for further dedication to overcoming challenges and urged Hoa Binh to continue to address the specific needs of ethnic minorities, leveraging both the advantages and addressing the challenges faced by the region. He also emphasised the importance of deepening the trust of ethnic minorities in the Party's leadership, ensuring that policies for economic development, national security, and cultural preservation continue to benefit all communities.

Nguyen Phi Long, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, called on Party Committees and administrations at all levels, as well as ethnic communities, to focus on raising awareness of ethnic issues and implement strategies to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and enhance education. He also stressed the need to address security concerns and promote the preservation of cultural heritages among ethnic groups.

The congress adopted a resolution setting ambitious goals for the 2024-2029 period, including reducing poverty by 2.5%–3% annually and improving infrastructure in ethnic minority areas. The province aims to ensure that over 90% of households in rural areas are involved in sustainable agriculture and forestry, while also promoting economic development and environmental protection.

At the congress, the Committee for Ethnic Affairs honoured three individuals with the insignia for the development of ethnic minorities, and presented certificates of merit to one collective and five individuals for their outstanding achievements in the implementation of ethnic affairs and policies. The provincial People's Committee also conferred certificates of merit on 13 collectives and 30 individuals for their exceptional contributions to ethnic affairs during the 2019-2024 period.

Bui Van Khanh concluded the congress by urging ethnic communities in Hoa Binh to remain united and and strive to successfully implement the goals and tasks set forth at the congress, accelerating socio-economic development, speeding up sustainable poverty reduction, preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identities, safeguarding national defence and security, and building prosperous and beautiful new-style rural areas in the ethnic minority areas of Hoa Binh.