Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: Work one day and think for ten years

Speaking at the National Conference to evaluate ethnic and religious work after reorganizing the apparatus and implementing the two-level local government, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung emphasized that every decision and action today must take into account the effectiveness and impact in the distant future, not just solving immediate problems.

Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung gave a speech at the Conference.

On August 12, 2025, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, a national conference was held to evaluate ethnic and religious work after reorganizing the apparatus and organizing the implementation of two-level local government.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung chaired the Conference.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister Ho Van Nien and Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister Y Vinh Tor co-chaired the Conference.

Attending the Conference were Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions: Y Thong, Nong Thi Ha, Nguyen Hai Trung, leaders of units based in Hanoi; representatives of the Central Inspection Committee , the Government Party Committee; Directors and Chiefs of Offices of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of provinces and cities; Directors of the Department of Home Affairs and Heads of Departments/Offices in charge of ethnic and religious affairs for localities that do not have a Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions.

The comrades chairing the Conference

The conference listened to leaders of the Departments of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of the localities: Hanoi , Dien Bien, Nghe An, Hue, Quang Ngai, Lam Dong, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Vinh Long, Ho Chi Minh City contribute ideas to clarify the contents related to the state management of ethnic minorities and religions at the local level after implementing the two-level government model and the implementation of Decree No. 124/2025/ND-CP and 6 circulars of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions.

The discussions focused on four groups of proposals and recommendations on: organizational structure, staffing, job positions, training and fostering for staff to meet the requirements of the two-level local government; perfecting institutions and policies related to decentralization and delegation of power in the field of ethnic and religious affairs; implementing tasks under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; and state management of beliefs and religions at the local level.

Concluding the Conference, Party Central Committee member and Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung affirmed the encouraging results in ethnic and religious work in the first 7 months of the year and proposed key tasks for the next period.

The Minister emphasized that the Ethnic and Religious Affairs sector has been recognized by the Government and the Prime Minister for having performed well its political tasks, although the Ministry was only established on March 1, 2025.

The socio-economic situation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is basically stable, people's lives are improved and enhanced.

Ethnic minorities and religious people always believe in and strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws, and actively participate in local socio-economic development. Political security and social order are maintained, and ethnic solidarity continues to be consolidated.

In particular, the work of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved impressive results with over 269 thousand houses supported, reaching 98% of the set plan.

The Minister assessed that "this is a miraculous achievement of the industry".

"Eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses is not only a completed socio-economic target, but also a great political and humanitarian achievement, a vivid demonstration of the Party and State's concern, directly strengthening the flesh-and-blood relationship with the People."

The program was completed 5 years and 4 months ahead of schedule compared to the original plan. It is expected that by August 31, 2025, localities will basically complete this goal nationwide.

Conference scene

Regarding the two-level local government model, the Ministry has submitted to the Government Decree No. 124/2025/ND-CP, one of the earliest decrees on decentralization, delegation of power, and division of authority.

This Decree has decentralized and delegated 33 authorities and tasks to localities, while reducing and simplifying administrative procedures in the fields of ethnicity, belief and religion (reaching 72.2%).

In addition, the Ministry has issued 6 circulars to guide contents under state management authority.

However, the direction and implementation of ethnic and religious policies in some localities are still confusing and the digital transformation of the whole sector is still slow. The situation of pushing and avoiding work also occurs in some localities and units under the Ministry.

Faced with the remaining limitations, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung pointed out five key groups of tasks that the entire ethnic and religious sector from central to local levels needs to focus on implementing resolutely in the coming time.

Firstly, the Minister suggested that the entire industry needs to have the mindset of state managers, "think deeply, do big things, act decisively and effectively".  

The consistent goal is to contribute to the realization of the three words "An": Security (especially human security), An dan (making people peaceful), and An sinh (social welfare).

Must closely and effectively coordinate with relevant ministries and functional branches in implementing ethnic and religious work.

The Minister emphasized that every decision and action today must take into account the effectiveness and impact in the distant future, not just solving immediate problems; he suggested that each cadre and civil servant must think about the mark and legacy that they will leave for the industry and the country, instead of working in a perfunctory and irresponsible manner.

"Working one day must think for ten years," the Minister emphasized.

Second, focus on perfecting institutions, policies and laws.

The Minister requested to urgently study and develop a plan to summarize Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW dated March 12, 2003 of the 9th Party Central Committee, Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 9th Party Central Committee.

Research and develop documents to amend and supplement the Law on Belief and Religion.

The Minister directed: "We must focus on building and promulgating specific mechanisms and policies suitable for each locality and region so that policies can be implemented more quickly . "

Third , focus on directing the summary of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period and propose a new program for the next period, in which this program will be a component of the new rural construction and sustainable poverty reduction program, instead of a separate program.

Fourth, strengthen the organization and improve staff capacity.

The Ministry and localities must build a synchronous database on the industry, focusing on four areas: state management, ethnic affairs, religious affairs, and national target program data.

The Minister assigned the Ethnic Academy to preside over, develop plans, and implement comprehensive training for officials in the sector from central to grassroots levels, focusing on problems and professional expertise.

At the same time, the Ministry will establish working groups to inspect, urge and directly resolve problems at the local level; send working groups to support and provide professional guidance to the grassroots level.

Fifth, integrate the Party's major policies into the ethnic and religious fields. Resolutely implement the four pillar resolutions to bring the country into a new era.

Promote digital transformation, apply science and technology, and create mechanisms to attract the private economy to participate in the development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, while at the same time, pay attention to implementing tasks and solutions for cultural and social development and social security policies for ethnic and religious people.

"Ethnic and religious work must take people's beliefs and prosperous lives as a measure of effectiveness," Minister Dao Ngoc Dung affirmed.

Source: https://sodantoctongiao.sonla.gov.vn/tin-moi/bo-truong-dao-ngoc-dung-lam-mot-ngay-phai-nghi-cho-muoi-nam-932543