Accompanying the delegation were Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Le Van Phuoc; Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of An Giang Province Bui Van Tang; Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Nguyen Van Len; Secretary of Tri Ton District Party Committee Lam Thanh Si; leaders of departments, branches and localities in the province.

During the visit and New Year greetings, Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong sent all dignitaries, prestigious people and Khmer people his warmest feelings, warm greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Wishing Khmer people, dignitaries and monks a joyful, healthy, peaceful and happy traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year 2025; a new year with new joys and new victories.

According to Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong, Vietnam is a unified, multi-ethnic country; the Khmer people in the South are one of the 54 ethnic groups, with a population of about 1.3 million people. They have a tradition of patriotism, diligence, creativity in labor and production, are conscious of building a great national unity bloc, and have a rich and diverse culture within the unity of Vietnamese culture.

The traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year is a unique cultural feature of the Khmer people, the biggest festival of the year, with special significance, starting the new year with faith, aspirations, and wishes for good things, a prosperous and happy life. This is also an occasion to celebrate the New Year, show gratitude, report achievements, and pay respect to ancestors.

Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong said that An Giang is one of the provinces with a large population of ethnic minorities; of which, the Khmer ethnic group has more than 237,000 people, accounting for over 13% of the province's population, the third largest in the Mekong Delta region. Over the past time, the ethnic minorities have always trusted and seriously implemented the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State, joining hands and hearts with other ethnic groups in the province to actively contribute to the achievements and comprehensive development results of the locality. The ethnic minority region in general and the Khmer ethnic region in particular have made new steps of development, the material and spiritual life of the people continues to be improved and raised.

Deputy Minister is happy and excited about the achievements and socio-economic development of the country in general and An Giang province in particular in 2024 - a year of comprehensive success in all fields, achieving and exceeding 100% of the socio-economic targets assigned by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Council. Ethnic work and ethnic policies also continue to receive attention and achieve important results.

The material and spiritual life of the people is increasingly improved. Social security policies, housing support, residential land, production land, health care, education and training, etc. are well implemented. National cultural identity is preserved and promoted; the great national unity bloc is increasingly strengthened. The grassroots political system in ethnic minority areas and in border communes is increasingly strong; political security and social order and safety are maintained stably.

Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong said that 2025 is a year with many major anniversaries and very important events of the country, and also the year marking the first time the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions was established, continuing to affirm the attention of the Party and State to ethnic and religious affairs; also the year to summarize the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period; the year to hold Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party; the year to accelerate, break through, and create a foundation to bring the country into a new era - the era of striving for strong development and prosperity of the nation.

Although the socio-economic situation of ethnic minority areas in general, the life and production of a part of the Khmer ethnic people still face many difficulties and challenges, with the revolutionary tradition of the province, under the leadership of the Party and the State, directly the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, the efforts of the entire political system, and with the excitement of celebrating Chol Chnam Thmay, major holidays and important historical events of the country, Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong believes that the Khmer ethnic people and monks in An Giang province will continue to promote the spirit of patriotism, the strength of great national unity; make a breakthrough development, successfully implement the socio-economic development goals in 2025. At the same time, we also continue to well implement ethnic and religious policies, associated with social security policies; Pay attention to supporting and caring for the material and spiritual life of the people, especially poor households, near-poor households, and families in difficult circumstances; Prepare well the conditions for the Khmer people to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay in 2025 in solidarity, joy, health, safety, economy, in accordance with the civilized lifestyle, customs, habits, and fine cultural traditions of the nation.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Y Thong and the delegation presented Tet gifts to 61 prestigious people among the Khmer ethnic minority in Tri Ton, Chau Thanh, Thoai Son districts and Tinh Bien town; presented 50 Tet gifts to policy families and poor households who are Khmer ethnic people in Tri Ton district./.

News by Cong Mao

Translation by Thi Huynh