Nation reaffirms policy on equality of ethnic groups

GENEVA — Viet Nam has a consistent policy on equality, unity and mutual respect for shared development among all ethnic groups, said Ha Hung, vice chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Committee and head of a Government delegation. Hung spoke at the 80th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

This policy serves as the principle and the goal of Viet Nam's stance on ethnic people, Hung said in his report on the country's results in implementing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination from 2000-09.

Viet Nam is a unified nation with 54 ethnic groups living together, of which the Kinh group accounts for 85.7 per cent; the remaining 53 ethnic groups make up 14.3 per cent with 12 million people.

Hung also spoke about completing the legal system and policies related to ethnic minorities; providing more investment and support for the comprehensive development and promotion of unity and mutual assistance among the groups; promoting the internal strength and comparative advantages of ethnic minorities as well as their sense of self-reliance in poverty reduction and local socio-economic development. — VNS