Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Đỗ Văn Chiến and Secretary of Cà Mau Province Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council Nguyễn Tiến Hải on Wednesday presents gifts to 20 outstanding Khmer individuals in Cà Mau during a ceremony held on the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay, Khmer people's most important traditional festival. — VNA/VNS Photo

CÀ MAU — A delegation led by President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Commitee Đỗ Văn Chiến on Wednesday attended a gathering of Khmer people in the southernmost province of Cà Mau on the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay, their most important traditional festival.

Speaking at the event, Chiến highlighted the local efforts in effectively implement the Party and State's ethnic and religious policies in areas inhabited by the Khmer community, the target programmes on new-style rural building, poverty reduction and ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous area development as well as in providing education and health care for local residents.

He asked Khmer people and monks to continue to uphold the tradition of national solidarity, abide by the Party guidelines and State policies, preserve and promote national cultural identity.

He also called on local authorities to pay more attention to improving the living conditions of Khmer people.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council Nguyễn Tiến Hải emphasised that improving the material and spiritual life of Khmer people is a cross-cutting goal in each development policy of the locality.

On this traditional New Year festival, Cà Mau has earmarked over VNĐ1 billion (US$42,550 ) to support poor and near-poor households and instructed districts to assist disadvantaged households, ensuring that they enjoy a happy festival, he said.

Cà Mau registers 33 ethnic groups, with more than 1.2 million people. The Khmer formed the largest community in the province, with almost 39,000 people. — VNS