Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang delivers a speech at the conference reviewing ethnic affairs in 2023 and outlining tasks for 2024 yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang has urged relevant ministries and localities to persist in the review and refinement of mechanisms and policies, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of ethnic policies.

This will contribute to promoting production, ensuring stability and gradually improving the lives of ethnic minority communities during the period of 2021–2030.

He conveyed these directives during the conference on reviewing ethnic affairs in 2023 and outlining tasks for 2024, organised by the National Assembly's Ethnic Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister and Vice Chairwoman of the committee Nông Thị Hà reported that under the strong direction of the government and the Prime Minister, and with the determined efforts of ethnic minority communities, 188 policies had been comprehensively implemented.

The projects and sub-projects of the national target programme for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas had yielded positive results, gradually promoting production, and stabilising and progressively improving the lives of ethnic minority communities.

The poverty rate according to multidimensional standards in 2023 was at 2.93 per cent, a decrease of 1.1 per cent compared to the previous year; the poverty rate in poor districts was around 33 per cent, a decrease of 5.62 per cent; and the poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas was approximately 17.82 per cent, a decrease of 3.2 per cent, achieving the targets set by the National Assembly and the Government.

In Hà Nội and Cần Thơ cities, and Đồng Nai and Long An provinces, the poverty rate was reduced to below 1 per cent.

Vice Chairman of Hà Nội People's Committee Nguyễn Mạnh Quyền emphasised that in 2023, the organisation of ethnic affairs and ethnic policies were particularly prioritised by the city.

To implement the national target programme for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the capital city, Quyền said the People's Committee submitted to the city People's Council the allocation of VNĐ1.05 trillion (US43.1 million) for 95 construction investment projects.

As of now, 52 out of 95 projects had been completed and put into use, while 15 basic projects had been completed and were ready to be handed over.

Quyền said the effective implementation of the programme had contributed to the rapid development of the economy. This had gradually narrowed the gap in living standards and income between ethnic minority communities and rural areas in the city.

Despite these basic achievements, he acknowledged that ethnic minority communities still faced difficulties and challenges. Economic development was slower than the region's potential, and infrastructure was still inadequate and weak.

People in ethnic minority communities still faced many difficulties in the context of slow economic growth, poverty and near-poverty rates remained high, and poverty reduction was not sustainable, he added.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Quang emphasised that ethnic affairs had received special attention from the Party, the State, the Government, ministries, and localities. In 2023, 95 per cent of the issues related to institutional mechanisms were initially resolved.

He pointed out two challenges for 2024, including climate change and the ongoing complex conflicts between countries worldwide that would cause impacts on ethnic minority and mountainous communities. He proposed that ministries and localities should continue to pay appropriate attention to ethnic affairs.

Regarding the implementation of ethnic policies, he suggested that localities should be highly flexible and ensure practical alignment with people's lives. Additionally, effective communication efforts should continue, as the unity of the people is crucial.

Deputy PM Quang also noted that the national target programme for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030 would involve various ministries and localities. Therefore, in 2024 and the following years, relevant agencies and units must pay utmost attention and consider ethnic affairs as a key and regular task. — VNS