He said that ethnic minority groups in the great Vietnamese family are equal and close-knit, respect each other and assist each other in making progress, and join efforts in national industrialsiation, modernisation, national construction and defence.

He noted that narrowing the gap between regions and ethnic minority groups, ending  backward customs and habits, improving the capacity of officials in charge of ethnic minorities, protecting the living environment and maintaining security and social order in areas inhabited by ethnic minority people are the main tasks of the ethnic minority-related work in the coming period.

Managers and scientists presented reports on implementation of the Party and State's policies on ethnic minorities and ways to reduce poverty and promote national unity.

They agreed that in the coming period, the focus will be on improving the quality and form of the dissemination of information and education, promoting democracy at the grassroots level and upholding the role of village and family heads and community heads.

VNA