The two-day congress aims to highlight contributions made by the Central Highlands ethnic groups to the country's socio-economic development as well as national unity, construction and defence. 

Solidarity is a valuable tradition of the Vietnamese people, particularly of ethic groups in the Central Highlands, stressed Pham The Duyet, Chairman of the Fatherland Front's Central Committee, while delivering a speech at the Congress. 

Duyet praised ethnic groups' great contributions to the national liberation cause as well as their enormous achievements over 20 years of renovation. 

Speaking to the Congress, President Luong called for concerted efforts from authorities and mass organisations to turn the Central Highlands into a prosperous region and pointed out major measures necessary to achieve the goal. 

The Party is pursuing a policy to make the Central Highlands a wealthy economy, stable administration and powerful national stronghold in order to emerge as a dynamic economic hub for the central region, said the State President.

Luong also called for intensive education of the Party and State policies on the great national unity in the entire political system and among the public in order to lay a foundation for stability and sustainable development in the Central Highlands and the entire country as well. 

On the sidelines of the Congress, a series of cultural activities are being held until March 31 in the Central Highlands Gia Lai province, including an awarding ceremony of the UNESCO title recognising the Central Highlands ethnic people's gong culture as a world heritage./.(VNA)