Overview of the Congress.

Attending the Congress were comrades: Tong Thi Phong, former member of the Political Bureau, former Vice President Standing Member of the National Assembly, former Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Huu Dong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission, former Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee; Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister, Deputy Chairwoman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities.

Delegates attending the Congress.

On the Sơn La province side, attending the Congress were comrades Hoàng Quốc Khánh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Lò Minh Hùng, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyễn Đình Việt, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; former provincial leaders from various periods; members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council, leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; and representatives of the Ethnic Affairs Committees of the provinces of Phú Thọ, Thanh Hóa, Hòa Bình, Điện Biên, and Lai Châu. Leaders of departments, agencies, districts, and cities; veteran revolutionaries, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, along with 246 delegates representing 11 ethnic minority groups residing in the province.

The delegation attending the Congress laid wreaths at the Monument to President Ho Chi Minh in Northwest Square.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, lays flowers at the Monument to President Ho Chi Minh in Northwest Square.

The delegation attending the Congress offered incense at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple in Northwest Square.

Delegates visited the Son La Prison Martyrs' Cemetery.

Delegates offer incense at the Son La Prison Martyrs' Cemetery.

Previously, the delegation attending the Congress had Laying flowers at the Monument of President Ho Chi Minh with the people of the Northwest ethnic groups and offering incense at the Temple of President Ho Chi Minh in Northwest Square; visiting the Martyrs' Cemetery of Son La Prison.

Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, delivered a speech at the Congress.

In his opening remarks at the congress, the comrade Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: The Congress is an important political event, further affirming the consistent policies and guidelines of the Party and State on ethnic affairs; it is a broad political and social activity aimed at strengthening the awareness and responsibility of the entire political system and the people of all ethnic groups in the province regarding ethnic affairs and national unity; consolidating the people's trust and consensus in the leadership of the Party and State. At the same time, it recognizes, honors, and commends outstanding collectives and individuals with excellent achievements in socio-economic development, preserving cultural values, and building national unity.

Artistic program to welcome the Congress.

The youth delegation and the ceremonial team congratulated the Congress.

Currently, Son La province has a population of over 1.3 million people, with 12 ethnic groups living together; of which, over 83.7% are ethnic minorities including: Thai, Mong, Muong, Dao, Kho Mu, Xinh Mun, Khang, Lao, La Ha, Tay, and Hoa. After 5 years of implementing the Resolution of the 3rd Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Son La province in 2019, the ethnic minority areas of the province have achieved important results. Programs and projects in ethnic minority areas in various fields have been implemented according to objectives, areas, and target groups, and have proven effective.

Presidium of the congress.

Many poverty reduction and economic development policies in ethnic minority areas, such as preferential credit for poor households, agricultural extension work, technology transfer to support production development, and vocational training, have been effectively implemented. Social security policies are ensured; as of October 2024, the entire province supported the demolition of 8,657 temporary houses for ethnic minority households with a total amount of over 404 billion VND; 10 out of 12 districts and cities have completed the work of eliminating temporary houses.

Delegates watch the political report at the Congress.

Son La province has mobilized hundreds of thousands of billions of VND from various investment sources to build electricity, road, school, health station, and cultural facilities to serve the production and living needs of ethnic minority communities. Specifically, under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, from 2022 to the present, investments have been made in the construction of 269 transportation projects, 94 centralized water supply projects, 115 education projects, 2 commune headquarters, 2 commune health stations; and the repair of 203 cultural houses and 51 irrigation projects…

Delegation of ethnic minorities from Song Ma district attends the Congress.

Delegation of ethnic minority representatives from Bac Yen district attends the Congress.

Through policies and projects, along with the efforts of ethnic minority communities, the socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas has been promoted; national defense and security have been maintained; cultural identity has been preserved and promoted; the political system has been strengthened; and the great unity among ethnic groups has been enhanced. The majority of ethnic minority people have shown a shift in awareness and a strong will to overcome poverty, with many exemplary individuals emerging among them. Three districts in the province have been recognized as having escaped poverty, and the poverty rate has decreased from 21.6% (in 2019) to 11.1% (in 2024).

Comrade Chá A Của, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, chaired the discussion.

The delegates focused their discussions and contributed ideas to further clarify the achievements made in implementing ethnic affairs and ethnic policies in the province over the past years; promptly reflected on the difficulties and obstacles encountered during implementation; shared best practices, effective models, and tasks for ethnic affairs and ethnic policies in the coming period..

 

The Committee for Ethnic Minorities presented flowers to congratulate the Congress.

Comrade Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister and Vice Chair of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, delivered a speech at the Congress.

In his address to the Congress, the comrade Ms. Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairwoman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs, congratulated the Party Committee, government, and people of ethnic minorities in Son La province on the achievements made in the past period; she especially praised and acknowledged the efforts of ethnic minority people who have joined forces to develop their potential and strengths, contributing together with the people of the whole country in the cause of renovation and development.

Delegation of ethnic minority representatives from Thuan Chau district attends the Congress.

The comrade urged Party committees, Party organizations, and local governments to continue paying attention to fundamentally resolving pressing issues arising in practice, creating livelihoods, improving people's income and living standards, and implementing the motto "leaving no one behind." Leveraging the province's potential and advantages, focusing resources on socio-economic development, and effectively implementing the three national target programs, especially the socio-economic development target program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province for the period 2021-2030. Focusing on building and strengthening the grassroots political system in ethnic minority areas…

Delegation of ethnic minority representatives from Phù Yên district attends the Congress.

The comrade expressed his wish that the ethnic minority people would pay attention to educating their children; change their way of thinking and doing things, strive to overcome difficulties and compete in economic development; work together to protect security and order, foster friendship, and build a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam-Laos border region; resolutely eliminate backward customs; and together preserve and promote the beautiful cultural identity of their ethnic groups.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech at the Congress.

Speaking on behalf of the provincial leadership at the Congress, Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Quoc Khanh requested that Party committees, government agencies, the Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, and ethnic minority communities in the province continue to uphold the tradition of national unity, maintain faith in the Party and the State; propagate and mobilize ethnic minority communities to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; and proactively combat the schemes and activities of hostile forces that incite division and undermine national unity.

Each ethnic minority family and community needs to promote self-reliance and self-improvement, diligently learn and cultivate knowledge, change mindsets and working methods, unite and help each other in labor, production, and business, achieve sustainable poverty reduction, and build prosperous, progressive, happy, and civilized families; focusing on education and training to raise the intellectual level of the people. Effectively implement policies, programs, and projects supporting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the National Target Program for Poverty Reduction, and the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas.

Implement solutions to preserve, maintain, and promote the traditional cultural values ​​and identities of ethnic minority communities; develop projects to restore traditional costumes and preserve the spoken and written languages ​​of ethnic minorities. Promote the role of village elders, community leaders, and influential figures within ethnic minority communities, building a core force at the local and grassroots levels. Focus on building and strengthening the political system in ethnic minority areas; pay attention to the recruitment, training, and development of qualified and capable local ethnic minority cadres to meet assigned tasks.

Leaders of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs presented Certificates of Merit and commemorative medals to collectives and individuals.

The leaders of the Provincial People's Committee presented Certificates of Commendation to collectives with outstanding achievements.

The leaders of the Provincial People's Committee presented Certificates of Commendation to individuals with outstanding achievements.

The Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs awarded Certificates of Merit to 1 collective and 5 individuals; and presented the "For the Cause of Ethnic Minority Development" Commemorative Medal to 1 individual. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 9 collectives and 42 individuals for outstanding achievements in ethnic affairs work during the 2019-2024 period.

Comrade Cam Thi Huyen Trang, Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, read out the Resolution of the Congress.

The Congress also launched an emulation movement on ethnic affairs and national unity for the period 2024-2029; and adopted the Congress's Resolution.

The delegates voted to approve the Congress Resolution.

Delegates visited the booths displaying agricultural products.

Delegates visited the booths displaying agricultural products.

Reporters' Team