The Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on May 12 signed a cooperation program aimed at promoting sustainable development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions during the 2026-2030 period.

Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang and Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung co-chaired the signing ceremony in Hanoi.

Deputy ministers from both ministries also attended the event.

People-centered approach

The cooperation program was developed based on policies and resolutions issued by the Communist Party, the National Assembly and the Government regarding ethnic affairs, agriculture, rural development and the National Target Program for 2026-2035.

It also reflects the functions and responsibilities of the two ministries as well as the growing need for stronger inter-agency coordination in developing ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

The initiative aims to establish a regular and close coordination mechanism between the two ministries in guiding and implementing policies related to ethnic minority communities and mountainous regions.

Officials said the program is intended to ensure unified, synchronized and effective implementation while remaining consistent with each ministry’s authority and responsibilities.

Under the framework, each ministry will take primary responsibility for areas under its expertise, including technical guidance, standards, inspections, supervision and reporting.

The program also places ethnic minority residents and local communities at the center of the development process.

Priority will be given to particularly disadvantaged communes and villages, border areas, regions facing water shortages, special-use and protection forests, as well as locations vulnerable to landslides, flash floods and other natural disasters.

Key areas of cooperation include socio-economic development, improving living standards, environmental protection, natural resource management and climate change adaptation.

The two ministries will also coordinate efforts to prevent and mitigate disaster risks in ethnic minority and mountainous communities.

A central focus of the partnership will be the effective implementation of national target programs on new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2026-2035.

During the first phase from 2026 to 2030, both ministries will jointly guide and manage assigned tasks while seeking to avoid overlapping responsibilities and fragmented resources.

In the immediate future, authorities plan to prioritize urgent issues including housing, residential land, farmland, electricity, clean water and essential social infrastructure in order to stabilize living conditions for ethnic minority communities.

Officials described these efforts as especially important because they form the foundation for residents to access education, healthcare, information, production opportunities, digital transformation and other essential services.

The National Office for Ethnic and Mountainous Affairs under the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will serve as the permanent coordinating body for the program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will act as the counterpart focal agency.

Both units will be responsible for preparing annual coordination plans, monitoring implementation progress, reporting difficulties and organizing inspections, reviews and evaluations.

Push for concrete changes on the ground

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang emphasized that ethnic minority and mountainous regions hold strategically important roles in socio-economic development, national defense, security, environmental protection and national unity.

He noted that the Party and State have introduced numerous programs and policies over the years targeting ethnic minority communities, including national target programs that have already contributed to positive changes in many areas.

However, he acknowledged that these regions remain among the country’s most disadvantaged in terms of infrastructure, livelihoods, income levels, access to basic services and resilience to climate change and natural disasters.

According to the minister, the next phase of national target programs will adopt a more integrated and synchronized approach, requiring new methods of coordination and implementation.

“In this context, cooperation between the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is extremely important, with the ultimate goal of improving both the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority communities,” Khang said.

He added that the broader objective is to narrow development gaps, strengthen public trust in the Party and State, and ensure sustainable development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Drawing from his own experience working in disadvantaged regions, Khang spoke about ongoing concerns surrounding access to clean water, electricity and stable livelihoods for local residents.

He said the cooperation framework is already comprehensive and clear, but stressed the importance of translating it into practical action.

“We need determined implementation closely tied to reality and guided by the spirit of the ‘six clarities’ - clear people, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear responsibilities, clear products and clear authority,” the minister said.

Minister Trinh Viet Hung also expressed strong commitment to implementing the program alongside the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

He called on specialized agencies from both ministries to immediately begin carrying out the agreed tasks.

According to Hung, the new cooperation program must produce measurable results and tangible improvements at the grassroots level.

He stressed that major policies introduced by the Party and State during the current term should quickly and effectively reach ethnic minority and mountainous communities.

Officials said the cooperation program would serve as an inter-sectoral action mechanism to address real issues on the ground, deliver policies to the right people and regions, reduce overlapping management and improve data sharing, inspections and supervision.

The initiative is also expected to help resolve urgent problems related to livelihoods, land, housing, clean water, electricity, environmental protection, disaster prevention and population stabilization.

Authorities believe the program will play an important role in effectively implementing national target programs while strengthening trust among ethnic minority communities and promoting sustainable development across mountainous regions.

Pham Thi Thanh Huyen