(VOVworld)- A conference on investment and assistance for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas opened in Hanoi on Monday, attended by more than 200 delegates. In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised Vietnamese and foreign organizations and partners for their support for Vietnam’s socio-economic development. He expressed his hope of receiving further support, especially for the sustainable poverty reduction in the mountainous areas. He highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in reducing poverty and improving the lives of people in disadvantaged areas. Foreign NGOs attending the conference promised to implement 261 humanitarian and development assistance programs worth more than 200 million USD in Vietnam’s mountain regions in the next 3 years.