The Southwest Region Steering Committee this year will coordinate with ministries, central agencies and localities to step up popularisation work among ethnic minority people and religious followers in the region.

The task was launched by the committee at a conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on March 19.

The publicised content will focus on highlighting the development of the southeastern region as well as its achievements in promoting socio-economic development and ensuring security and defence.

The ethnic and religious policies of the Party and State and action programmes to implement ethnic development work by 2020 will also be on the agenda.

The work will be implemented through different channels, including presentations and dialogues at community meetings.

According to Nguyen Phong Quang, deputy head of the committee, the popularisation work for ethnic and religious people in the region recorded noteworthy results last year.

The committee, in collaboration with central agencies and regional localities, organised 52 meetings with ethnic and religious communities, drawing more than 11,000 participants.

The work helped better the understanding of ethnic minority people, religious dignitaries and followers about the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, especially those related to ethnic groups and religions, he said.

It also raised their vigilance over sabotage schemes of hostile and reactionary forces as well as their pride of national traditions, cultural and religious values, he added.

In parallel with popularisation work, the committee cooperated with agencies and localities to actively implement the Party and State’s policies for ethnic groups and religions, covering socio-economic development, social security guarantees, poverty reduction, vocational training, job generation, health care and support for the poor.-VNA