On An Giang Province's side, those receiving and accompanying the working delegation included: Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Head of the full-time delegation of An Giang Province’s National Assembly deputies Ly Anh Thu; Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province Ha Minh Trang; Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Danh Phúc; Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of Rach Gia  Ward Nguyen Thi Hoan Xuan; and Vice Chairwoman of the People's Council of Rach Gia Ward Nguyen Thi Hong Linh.

The working delegation visited and extended New Year greetings to the family of former Vice Chairman of the Council on Ethnic Affairs Danh Ut at his private residence at No. 32 Nguyen Hung Son Street, Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province; the An Giang Province Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks at the Association’s Office – Lang Cat Pagoda, located at No. 325 Ngo Quyen Street, Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province, and presented gifts to 1 collective and 21 individuals; Thon Don Pagoda at No. 66/18, Quarter 6, Truong Dinh Street, Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province, and presented gifts to 1 collective and 16 individuals; and An Giang Ethnic Minority Boarding High School No. 1 at No. 196 Dong Da Street, Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province, and presented gifts to 1 collective and 12 outstanding students.

During the visits to the pagodas, CEA Vice Chairwoman Dinh Thi Phuong Lan shared that, in the vibrant atmosphere as nature transforms during these April days, she was very happy and moved to be there with the elders, monks, and all local residents to celebrate the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year, a festival imbued with sacred, joyful, and lively significance for the Khmer people, to pray for favorable weather, for blessings and good fortune, and to express gratitude to the Buddha, ancestors, and parents, wishing for good health, happiness, and success in all endeavors in the new year. On behalf of the leadership of the Council on Ethnic Affairs, CEA Vice Chairwoman Dinh Thi Phuong Lan extended warm sentiments, cordial regards, and best New Year wishes for peace and prosperity to the Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks, the Most Venerables, Venerables, senior monks, the Achars, the Pagoda Management Board, and all Khmer compatriots.

The CEA Vice Chairwoman affirmed that, under the attention, leadership, and direction of the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, local Party committees, authorities, and with the entire political system involved while leveraging the people's internal strengths, despite many overall difficulties, An Giang Province has still achieved many proud accomplishments. The living standards of ethnic groups in general and the Khmer people in particular have seen many positive changes: roads have been invested in, houses are more spacious, children have access to education, and many households have escaped poverty and become prosperous through agricultural production, animal husbandry, and traditional occupations. National target programs on sustainable poverty reduction, new-style rural area building, the socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and policies on education and healthcare development have brought many practical benefits to compatriots. In that bright picture, there have been enormous and persistent contributions from ethnic groups, especially the Khmer people. The Khmer people have always been an inseparable part of the great family of Vietnamese ethnic groups. The Party, the State, and the authorities of An Giang Province have always paid special attention and created all conditions to continuously improve the material and spiritual lives of the people.

The CEA Vice Chairwoman emphasized that the Party and the State also especially appreciate and recognize the role of dignitaries, monks, Achars, and prestigious individuals in the community. They are the spiritual 'pillars' and the solid bridge helping people understand and follow the Party and State’s guidelines and policies, guiding them to live 'for a good life and a good faith' while promoting fine cultural traditions. On this occasion, she expressed deep gratitude to the Most Venerables, senior monks, and religious dignitaries who always serve as a bridge between the Party, the government, and the people, actively encouraging compatriots to comply with the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws, and to uphold morality and a way of life that is 'good for life, good for faith.' Once again, she wished the dignitaries, monks, Achars, and all Khmer compatriots abundant health, warm families, bountiful harvests, and all auspicious things! May our great national unity bloc remain forever strong.

Visiting An Giang Ethnic Minority Boarding High School No. 1, the CEA Vice Chairwoman emphasized that education and training, along with science and technology, are identified as top national priorities, and the Politburo has issued Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW and other documents on important policies and decisions in the field of education and training. This shows that the Party and State pay special attention to this field and make focused, key investments, including in the development and orientation of the ethnic minority boarding school system. 

On this occasion, the CEA Vice Chairwoman expressed her hope that the leaders of An Giang Province, especially the Department of Education and Training and school principals, will continue to show concern and trust, and have sufficient dedication, vision, and capability to successfully fulfill the tasks entrusted to the school by the Party, State, and people, especially the compatriots of An Giang Province, to train young generations. She wished An Giang Ethnic Minority Boarding High School No. 1 even greater development and success. She wished all teachers and students a peaceful and happy new year, excellence in teaching and learning, and to truly become the masters of the future./.

News by Bich Thuy