On the morning of May 22, in Can Tho, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) in coordination with the People's Committee of Can Tho City organized the Conference "Preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer ethnic group".
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism clearly stated that this is an opportunity for the culture, sports and tourism sector from the Central to local levels to look at and objectively and comprehensively assess the current situation of the conservation and promotion of traditional cultural values of the Khmer ethnic people in the past time; clarify the achieved results, limitations, difficulties and causes.
The Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the conference is also a forum for departments, ministries, branches, localities, scientists, artisans, religious dignitaries and representatives of Khmer ethnic people to exchange and share experiences, propose appropriate models and solutions, associated with the practice of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer ethnic people.
Thereby, unifying awareness and action in the entire political system about the role and significance of Khmer cultural preservation work; determining that this is not only a cultural task but also an important political and social task, contributing to consolidating the great national unity bloc and sustainable development of the country.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep - Vice Chairwoman of Can Tho City People's Committee said that after arrangement, the city has 103 commune-level administrative units, including 31 wards and 72 communes; is a locality with a large number of ethnic minorities living, of which the Khmer ethnic group is 543,266 people, accounting for 14.11% of the city's population.
Currently, Can Tho has 120 Khmer Southern Buddhist pagodas. Among them, 2 pagodas are ranked as National Relics, Khe leng pagoda and Doi pagoda; 9 pagodas are ranked as City-level Relics; 6 artisans who are ethnic minorities were awarded the titles "People's Artisan", "Excellent Artisan" in the field of intangible cultural heritage by the President; 16 intangible cultural heritages.
The work of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer people has been concerned and achieved many positive results.
In particular, the role of dignitaries, artisans, and prestigious people in the community continues to be strongly promoted in teaching, preserving and spreading traditional cultural values to the younger generation.
Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee also informed that in recent years, Party committees and authorities at all levels in the city have synchronously and effectively implemented the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws on ethnic affairs and ethnic policies.
At the same time, pay attention to caring for the material and spiritual life, creating jobs and favorable conditions for ethnic minorities in general and Khmer people in particular to feel secure in labor production, develop family economy, contribute to socio-economic development, maintain security and order in ethnic minority areas, strengthen the great national unity bloc and build a strong grassroots political system.
