Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình gives the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit to outstanding individuals at the ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — More than 500 outstanding individuals from ethnic minority groups nationwide were honoured for their achievements and contributions to the country in a ceremony yesterday.

The 512 honourees include intellectuals, businessmen and leaders and former leaders from the 53 ethnic minority groups in 52 provinces and cities nationwide.

Each attained considerable achievements in socio-economic development and the building of new-style rural areas.

The oldest is Mùa A Pao of the Mông ethnic group, born in 1930, while the youngest is Khmer woman Thạch Thị Kim Danh, born in 1992. 

Addressing the ceremony, Đỗ Văn Chiến, minister-chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs, the organiser, called the honourees “the most beautiful flowers in the flamboyant and colourful garden of Việt Nam’s ethnic community.”

He emphasised that ethnic minority groups are the “flesh and blood” of the Vietnamese nation, and an indispensable part of the nation.

“We have always stood shoulder to shoulder, and therefore no force can sow division among our nation’s great unity,” he said.

Art performance during a ceremony held yesterday to honour outstanding individuals from ethnic minority groups nationwide. — VNA/VNS Photo

Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình said the Party and State have always attached importance to ethnic minority affairs.

He praised the tremendous contributions of ethnic minority groups, including the sacrifice of blood, throughout national struggles and revolutionary courses to gain independence and the current modernisation process.

However, he also admitted that there remain problems that minority ethnic groups face. They include low living standards, low-quality education and health care services, slow settlement of their problems and other security and political issues which risk social disorder.

He hoped that the honourees would act as a bridge between their communities with State and local authorities to spread national unity, and as an information channel to disseminate the Party and State’s policies and guidelines. 

He asked them to work with local authorities and State agencies to boost the development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, eradicate poverty and narrow development gaps between ethnic groups.

Also on this occasion, 72 outstanding persons were awarded the Certificate of Merit from Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and from Minister Chiến. — VNS