On the morning of November 5, the 4th Congress of Ethnic Minorities in Cao Bang Province in 2024 took place with the theme "Ethnic minorities in Cao Bang Province unite, promote internal strength, integrate and develop sustainably". The Congress was attended by 244 delegates representing ethnic groups in Cao Bang Province; Ms. Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister, Vice Chairwoman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee attended and directed the Congress.

According to the Political Report of the Congress, in the period of 2019-2024, the economic situation and living conditions of ethnic minorities in Cao Bang province remained stable, social security was ensured; social order and safety were maintained. The average growth rate in the period of 2021-2023 reached 3.31%/year; the average poverty rate decreased by 4% per year.

The province has invested in nearly 500 infrastructure projects; supported production development, livelihood diversification and poverty reduction models in over 200 production development support projects. Implemented distributed domestic water support for nearly 20,000 households; supported the construction of livestock barns for 87 households; supported the construction of houses for 589 poor ethnic minority households; supported job conversion for over 679 households. Implemented investment in 8 projects to plan, arrange, and stabilize residents in urgent places in the province for 266 households.

Cao Bang province has also supported the establishment of support points for ethnic minorities to apply information technology at the People's Committees at the commune level to serve socio-economic development and ensure security and order, regulations on establishing support points for ethnic minorities... In the period 20019-2024, Cao Bang province has had positive and comprehensive changes, with important contributions from ethnic work.

Speaking at the Congress, Ms. Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairwoman of the Ethnic Committee, suggested that the Party Committee and authorities of Cao Bang province need to continue to study and raise awareness of the Party and State's viewpoints, policies and guidelines on ethnic work, great national unity and ethnic policies.

Along with that, it is necessary to innovate thinking and actions, focus resources on investment in socio-economic development, propose breakthrough, focused and key solutions to effectively implement 3 national target programs, especially the national target program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030 in the province.

"Cao Bang province needs to focus on training and developing human resources, especially local ethnic minority cadres, increasing the number of capable and dedicated cadres working in difficult areas; promoting the role of prestigious people and all classes of people in building and consolidating the grassroots political system.

Proactively build a national defense posture, a people's security posture, associated with a solid people's heart posture; create consensus, build villages and hamlets united, peaceful and developed; pay attention to preserving and promoting good traditional cultural values, tangible and intangible cultural heritages of ethnic minorities; eliminate backward customs. Focus on building and fostering the great solidarity bloc of ethnic groups; promote the self-reliance of ethnic groups", the Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee emphasized.

The 4th Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Cao Bang Province in 2024 approved the Resolution Letter; setting specific goals by 2029: 100% of communes have paved roads to the commune center; over 90% of villages and hamlets have paved roads to the center. Over 95% of communes meet national criteria on commune health; over 90% of classrooms are solidified, over 40% of schools meet national standards. The whole province has 85% or more of solidly built commune headquarters; 70% of communes have cultural houses; 100% of villages have community activity houses; 90% of families meet cultural standards; over 95% of households have access to the national grid, use clean water for daily life...

Cao Bang province also aims to reduce the number of poor and near-poor households by an average of over 4% per year; the rate of trained workers is over 60%; ethnic minority households with health insurance cards reach 98%; average income per person is over 55 million VND/person/year. Along with that, it is necessary to preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups; effectively implement ethnic programs and policies in the province.