(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese Party and government have always paid special attention to the ethnicity affairs and national unity. Vice National Assembly Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the statement at a conference in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau on Wednesday on combining policies for ethnic groups, gender equality, law building, and supervision of law enforcement in ethnic populated areas. Up to 40 programs and key projects are under way in ethnic and mountainous regions focusing on education, training, healthcare, transportation, irrigation, production development, poverty reduction, and preservation of the ethnic minority groups’ culture. Vietnam is strongly committed to enhancing gender equality which has been concertized in its national strategy on gender equality. The meeting also introduced an overview of the implementation of policies on ethnicity, gender equality, and the enhancement of the women’s participation in political affairs.