Photo: tapchimattran.vn

Special attention

Joining the Chol Chnam Thmay festival, the government leaders talked with local Khmer religious dignitaries and followers, intellectuals, social policy beneficiaries, and students. The meetings took place not only at meeting halls, but also at religious establishments, and Buddhism schools.

In past years, the Vietnamese Party and State have paid special attention to ethnic minority and religious affairs. The government has allocated money and implement programs and policies to support socio-economic development, education, training and health in areas inhabited by the Khmer.

In the face of difficulties caused by climate change, rising sea level, and saline intrusion, the government has implemented a resolution on sustainable and climate resilient development of the Mekong River Delta which has resulted in dramatic changes in people’s awareness and the quality of human resources. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to consider the expansion of the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Academy in Can Tho city.

Appeal for consensus in national development

At last week’s meetings, the government leaders praised the Khmer’s efforts to overcome difficulties to obtain significant socio-economic achievements, preserve national cultural identity, and strengthen national unity.

They called on civilians, soldiers, and religious dignitaries and followers to uphold the tradition of national unity and self-reliance, participate in patriotic emulation movements, protect national cultural identity, and improve their material and spiritual lives.

They said the Vietnamese Party and State respect and protect the people’s freedom of religion and belief and create conditions for religious activities in line with law.  

There are more than 1.3 million Khmer people living in Vietnam, most of them in the 9 Mekong Delta provinces.