The first national ethnic minority congress will open at the My Dinh National Convention Centre in Hanoi on May 12 with the participation of 1,702 ethnic minority representatives.

This was announced by Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs, Giang Seo Phu, at a press briefing in Hanoi on May 7.

This is the first time the Party and State is organising the ethnic minority congress on a national scale. The congress will see the attendance of both the youngest delegate, from the Odu ethnic group (12 years old) and the oldest, from the Mong ethnic group (102 years old).

Mr Phu emphasised the congress’s wish to see ethnic groups continue enhancing solidarity, effectively implement hunger eradication and poverty reduction programmes and increase people’s awareness, thus contributing to national industrialisation and modernisation.
The congress is an especially important event in the life of Vietnamese ethnic groups and confirms Vietnam is a united yet diverse nation and that the Vietnamese Party and State has a consistent policy on ethnic issues, work and solidarity.

On the threshold of the congress, the organising board will put together an incense offering ceremony at the Hung Kings’ temple, floral tributes to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and a reception given by Party and State leaders for the congress’s delegates.

Source: VOV