The meeting was attended by Hau A Lenh, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister, Chairman of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs; Nguyen Van Hieu, Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Can Tho City Party Committee; Tran Viet Truong, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, along with delegates at all levels, departments, and representatives including monks, Achar, the Khmer pagoda management board, respected individuals, Khmer ethnic minority students who have overcome difficulties in their studies, retired officials, and current Khmer officials working in units throughout the city.

As of the end of 2023, in the city, there were 6,198 Khmer households with 23,691 people, accounting for 62.3% of the total population of ethnic minorities. In recent times, ethnic affairs work has achieved significant results. In 2023, all 18 economic and social development targets in the field of ethnic affairs set by the city were met and exceeded. Accordingly, the Ethnic Affairs Committee focused on disseminating Party policies, state laws, and policies in the ethnic affairs field through various diverse forms.

Mr. Tran Viet Truong, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, read the greetings for Chol Chnam Thmay 2024 from the Prime Minister and from the City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front sent to the Khmer people, monks, and respected Khmer individuals.

The city has also implemented policies to take care of ethnic minority people. Specifically, in 2023, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Chol Chnam Thmay, and Sene Dolta Festival, departments all levels organized visits and presented 4,630 gifts with a total amount of 2.24 billion VND to the Khmer people. The city also successfully organized the people's army Tet in 2023, creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere among the Khmer ethnic minority people.

In parallel, the city has implemented many support programs for ethnic minority people, including providing loans to Khmer households. Currently, 2,478 Khmer households have received loan support, with a total capital of 68.6 billion VND. Up to the present time, there are only 54 households of ethnic minorities classified as poor, accounting for 0.53% of the total ethnic minority population in the city. Among them, 44 poor households are of Khmer ethnicity, accounting for 81.48% of the total number of poor households of ethnic minorities. In the past year, departments all levels in the area have built 35 houses and repaired 26 houses for poor ethnic minority households.

A musical performance by the cultural team of the Khmer Southern Buddhist Academy.

In addition, education and training as well as healthcare and the preservation and promotion of cultural values have always been invested in by the city. Efforts continue to be made to conserve, support the restoration, and maintain cultural forms of the ethnic minority people.

The implementation of ethnic policies has brought positive results, contributing to improving the lives of ethnic minority people, enhancing the effectiveness of state management in ethnic affairs, and contributing to socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the city. At the same time, it has also contributed to improving the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority people, reducing the sustainable poverty rate.

Mr. Hau A Lenh, Minister, Chairman of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs, made a statement.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Hau A Lenh, Minister, Chairman of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs, expressed confidence that Can Tho City will have a breakthrough development, continue to effectively implement ethnic and religious policies, and integrate them with social security policies. He emphasized the importance of supporting and caring for the material and spiritual well-being of the Khmer ethnic minority people. Good preparations are being made for the Khmer people to celebrate the Chol Chnam Thmay 2024 with unity, joy, health, safety, frugality, in accordance with the civilized lifestyle, customs, traditions, and beautiful cultural heritage of the ethnic group.

Mr. Hau A Lenh expressed his desire that with the spirit of the year hosting the 4th district and city-level Congress of ethnic minority delegates in 2024, and the enthusiastic atmosphere to welcome the Chol Chnam Thmay, the Khmer people and Buddhist monks will continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, the strength of national unity, the will of self-reliance and self-improvement, actively strive in labor, production, and construction, to create a warm, prosperous life. Together with the people of all ethnic groups, levels, sectors, and localities, they will overcome difficulties and be determined to successfully achieve the socio-economic development goals in 2024, ensuring national defense and security, and contributing to building a richer, more beautiful, and more civilized homeland and country.