National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn addresses the meeting in Bình Phước on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhật Bình

BÌNH PHƯỚC — National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn held a working session with the Standing Committee of Bình Phước Provincial Party Committee on Wednesday to evaluate the southern province’s socio-economic performance in the first half and outline plans for the rest of the year.

The province reported a strong economic performance, with a growth rate of 7.76 per cent. This economic expansion has also led to a significant reduction in poverty, with the rate of poor households falling below the national average to just 0.4 per cent.

Bình Phước is also making strides in infrastructure development. Construction is underway on the Gia Nghĩa-Chơn Thành section of the western North-South expressway, along with the section of the HCM City-Thủ Dầu Một-Chơn Thành Expressway running through the province. These projects aim to enhance regional connectivity and stimulate economic activity.

NA Chairman Mẫn commended the province's focus on cultural and social development, while underlining the importance of maintaining national defence and security, with regular meetings with neighbouring provinces in Cambodia and southern Laos.

Looking ahead, Mẫn urged Bình Phước to prioritise the continued implementation of its 11th provincial Party Congress's Resolution, toward achieving all set targets and contributing to the success of the 13th National Party Congress's Resolution.

To further propel socio-economic growth, he called for measures to improve the business environment and attract foreign direct investment, as well as investments from other sources, enhance local competitiveness and embrace technological advancements.

As a border province with an important strategic position in politics, economy, society-culture and national defence-security, Bình Phước should maintain the Việt Nam-Cambodia borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, while paying attention to such areas as culture, sports, tourism, education, and healthcare, ensuring social welfare and sustainable poverty reduction, the top legislator said.

In the immediate future, Bình Phước must focus on implementing the Politburo's Directive on all-level Party congresses in preparation for the 14th National Party Congress and upcoming elections to the National Assembly and all-level People's Councils for the 2026-2031 tenure. — VNS