The event had the participation of Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Member of the Standing Committee of Can Tho Municipal Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City; Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee; Mr. Tao Viet Thang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Local Ethnic Affairs, Committee for Ethnic Affairs; Venerable Dao Nhu, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Director of the Khmer Southern Buddhist Academy and religious dignitaries, monks, Achar, reputable individuals from the Khmer community in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

During the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee, stated the achievements of Can Tho in the first nine months of 2024 as the city has surpassed its primary targets and tasks according to the set plan in terms of the socio-economic development. Notably, Can Tho City’s economy has shown steady growth, leading to improvements in the material and spiritual well-being of the people. Additionally, there have been significant advancements in the cultural and social sectors, while national defense and security have been effectively maintained. In the last three months of 2024, the city is committed to surpassing all targets and tasks according to the set plan.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting. 

The official stressed that the religious dignitaries, monks, Achar, reputable individuals, and the Khmer community living in the city are vital resources, contributing significantly to successfully implementing the city's economic and social development goals. Regarding the government's side, leaders at all levels will continue to preserve, and promote cultural values of ethnic minority communities and fully implement policies for people with credibility.

Delegates attended the meeting to celebrate Sene Dolta festival in 2024.

Secretary of the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Hieu hopes that in the future, venerable monks, dignitaries, A Char, temple management boards, officials, civil servants, and reputable individuals will uphold the good traditions and strengthen national solidarity, mobilizing ethnic minorities to continue participating in patriotic movements and working together to achieve the city's goals and tasks. Additionally, they will work to implement better the Party and State's guidelines, viewpoints, and policies towards the Khmer people and the city's residents, all with the common goal of ensuring a prosperous, peaceful, and happy life for the people.

Sharing at the meeting, Venerable Dao Nhu, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Director of the Khmer Southern Buddhist Academy - one of the reputable figures in the Khmer ethnic community, expressed that recently, the Khmer people have always received attention from the leaders of the Party, the State, and Can Tho City. National projects, Government Programs, and the city's attention to supporting housing, land, production land, household water, and investing in upgrading rural infrastructure for the ethnic community have quickly changed the appearance of the villages and communes, contributing to improving the living standards of the Khmer ethnic people.

On this occasion, Venerable Dao Nhu gave a speech reviewing the essential values of the Sene Donta Festival. Sene Dolta, which is celebrated from the 30th of the eighth lunar month to the second of the ninth lunar month each year (October 13-15 this year), is one of the most important religious festivals for Khmer ethnic people, along with Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) and Ooc Oom Bok to thank the Moon for a good harvest. During the event, people gather to pay homage to their ancestors and enjoy traditional singing and dancing after a year of hard work.

Venerable Dao Nhu also highlighted the similarities between the customs and festivals of the Khmer and Kinh people, as both ethnic groups place great importance on gratitude and remembrance of the merits of ancestors and those who sacrificed to build and protect the country. Therefore, preserving and conserving these cultural values is crucial, he stressed.

At the meeting, representatives of the Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Monks of Can Tho City and delegates also raised questions and proposed recommendations related to religion and ethnicity. Can Tho City leaders and representatives of relevant departments, agencies, and sectors have satisfactorily responded to these recommendations.

The leaders of Can Tho City presented meaningful gifts to religious dignitaries and reputable individuals from the Khmer community on the occasion of the Khmer ethnic group's traditional Sene Dolta Festival.