An international seminar entitled “Ethnic groups of Vietnam, China and ASEAN countries – Integration and Development” was held in Hanoi on October 21. The seminar focused on issues relating to ethnic people, including economic development and poverty reduction; education and health care policies, preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values; environmental protection in the integration process; and scientific research on ethnic groups. According to Dr. Phan Van Hung, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Ethnology (VIE), the organizing board received 38 reports covering a wide range of topics, from macroeconomic issues to development models of an ethnic minority, and changes in a village. Integration is an inevitable trend of ASEAN nations and ethnic minorities cannot be outsiders, he said, adding that economic integration brings great benefits and creates opportunities for ethnic minority people to access social services, information and new cultures. In the face of potential risks and challenges, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have issued a number of policies which aim to raise awareness, educational standards and working skills for ethnic people and implemented programs and policies to boost socio-economic development and poverty reduction as well as strengthening social security systems for ethnic people. The seminar, co-organized by the VIE and the Institute of Ethnology and Sociology under the Guangxi University of Nationalities, offered an opportunity for countries to share experiences and outline their responsibilities and plans for national and regional development, Hung said. (vovnews.vn Oct 22)
