Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang has urged Lang Son Province to remove obstacles hindering the implementation of policies affecting ethnic minority communities.
During a working session with provincial authorities on June 2, the minister led a delegation from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs to review the implementation of ethnic, belief and religious affairs policies in the northern border province.
The delegation was received by Nguyen Canh Toan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Lang Son People's Committee, along with Vice Chairwoman Tran Thanh Nhan and representatives of provincial departments and agencies.
Strengthening oversight of ethnic and religious affairs
Overview of the working session. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Lang Son is home to more than 881,000 residents, with ethnic minority groups accounting for nearly 84% of the population. Three officially recognized religions - Buddhism, Catholicism and Protestantism - are active in the province.
As a strategically important mountainous border province, Lang Son considers ethnic and religious affairs a key political task closely linked to socio-economic development, national defense, security and the strengthening of national unity.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang asked local authorities to identify and address bottlenecks affecting the implementation of policies closely tied to livelihoods and economic opportunities for ethnic minority residents. He also requested clarification on the disbursement of rollover funding under national target programs to ensure both efficiency and progress.
According to the provincial report, conditions in ethnic minority and mountainous areas remained largely stable during the first five months of 2026 despite challenges associated with implementing a new phase of national target programs. Living standards continued to improve, while ethnic, religious and social welfare policies were implemented effectively.
One notable achievement has been continued investment in essential infrastructure. All communes and wards now have access to the national electricity grid, while household electricity coverage has reached 99.88%.
The proportion of households using hygienic sanitation facilities stands at 85%, while more than 65% of rural households have access to clean water meeting national standards. Nearly 84% of agricultural land is now served by irrigation systems. The province currently has 325 schools meeting national standards, representing more than 51% of all schools.
The poverty rate fell to 2.32% in 2025, down 1.04 percentage points from the previous year. A major housing support initiative successfully completed 1,340 new or renovated homes, achieving 100% of its target.
Under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for 2021-2025, the province proactively reviewed and adjusted funding allocations while addressing implementation challenges at the grassroots level. More than VND816 billion (US$31.4 million) in funding has been carried over into 2026.
At the same time, Lang Son has developed plans to mobilize more than VND20.267 trillion (US$779 million) for ethnic minority development initiatives during the 2026-2030 period.
Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang commends Lang Son Province for its achievements in implementing ethnic and religious policies. Photo: Le Anh DungLang Son People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Canh Toan says the Party’s and State’s ethnic and religious policies have made significant contributions to the province’s socio-economic development. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Policies supporting reputable community figures continue to be implemented effectively, while education and human resource development remain priorities.
Healthcare services have also recorded significant progress. The province has successfully provided health insurance coverage to 100% of poor residents and eligible ethnic minority citizens.
Traditional cultural values continue to be preserved and promoted alongside the development of community-based tourism.
Religious and belief-related activities have remained stable and compliant with legal regulations, with no major incidents reported. The province has organized visits and congratulatory events for religious organizations during major celebrations, supported a new term of the provincial Buddhist Congress and addressed legitimate religious needs among local residents.
Focus on livelihoods and social welfare
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Nguyen Canh Toan said the Party’s and State’s ethnic and religious policies have made important contributions to socio-economic development across the province, particularly in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
He expressed hope that the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs would continue assisting the province in addressing outstanding issues within its authority, helping improve the effectiveness of ethnic and religious affairs management.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang praised Lang Son’s achievements.
“I am pleased to see that ethnic solidarity, religious harmony and the implementation of ethnic and religious policies in Lang Son Province have achieved positive results,” he said.
The minister also expressed admiration for the province’s development goals for 2026 and its efforts to introduce tailored ethnic policies aimed at improving living standards and narrowing development gaps.
Looking ahead, he urged Lang Son to effectively implement Phase I (2026-2030) of the integrated national target programs on new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas through 2035.
He also called for greater attention to electricity access in villages that remain unconnected to the national grid, expansion of telecommunications coverage and stronger support for agricultural land access and sustainable livelihoods.
The minister further encouraged the province to review and summarize the implementation of Party resolutions and conclusions related to ethnic affairs, strengthen public awareness campaigns regarding the revised Law on Belief and Religion, continue support policies for reputable community leaders and closely monitor religious developments in order to promptly address emerging issues.
Vietnamnet.vn
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