President Trần Đại Quang offers incense to war heroes resting at the A1 Hill Cemetery in the locality. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

Viet Nam News -ĐIỆN BIÊN — President Trần Đại Quang has asked the local authorities of the northwest mountainous province of Điện Biên to enhance their leadership and direction for a number of key tasks, including promoting economic growth.

During his working session with the provincial authorities on Saturday, May 7, 2016, the President underlined the need for Điện Biên to focus on developing agricultural production and services together with restructuring agriculture, constructing infrastructure facilities for socio-economic and culture development, effectively attracting investment and promoting new-style rural area building programmes.

The President hailed important achievements made by the local Party organisations and authorities, and residents in recent times, especially in economic growth expansion, per capita income improvement, poverty reduction and vocational training, saying that those greatly contributed to the nation’s development.

Trần Văn Sơn, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee briefed the President on the local socio-economic achievements and efforts in ensuring security and defence in 2015.

The Party and local-government building work recorded positive results, he noted.

In the first months of this year, local authorities devised many solutions to promote trade and service activities, and accelerate key projects such as the programmes of rapid and sustainable poverty reduction, new-style rural area building, and resettlement and socio-economic development plans, Sơn reported.

In 2016, the locality will focus on fostering agricultural production and the service sector, strengthening the great national unity, improving the quality of the local political system’s operations and concretising the Resolutions of the 12th National Party Congress and the 13th Congress of the provincial Party Organisation, he added.

Agreeing on targets and measures for the socio-economic goals in the 2015-20 period set at the recent 13th Congress of the local Party Organisation, President Quang made a request for better Party building and local-level political system enforcement.

The locality should pay attention to fostering tourism development, especially historical and cultural tourism, and fully tapping the sector’s advantages and potential, he added.

The State leader also reminded the local authorities to enhance international integration and take more measures to ensure security and defence.

Ceremony marks Điện Biên Phủ victory

Also on Saturday, President Quang attended a grand ceremony celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ victory, which ended French colonial rule in the country.

In his speech at the event, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mùa A Sơn recalled historical milestones of the 56-day Điện Biên Phủ campaign which “ resounded throughout the five continents and was world-shaking.”

He expressed gratitude to late President Hồ Chí Minh and late General Võ Nguyễn Giáp, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Việt Nam People’s Army, for their roles in the triumph at Điện Biên Phủ. He also offered heartfelt thanks to the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for the victory.

Sơn highlighted Điện Biên’s socio-economic achievements over the 30-year đổi mới (renewal) process.

According to Sơn, the local economy has recorded stable growth between 2010-15, with average growth hitting 9.11 per cent a year in the period. Per capita income in 2015 reached VNĐ23.6 million (US$1,040) , up 1.89 times from 2010.

Infrastructure facilities in Điện Biên have been upgraded, while the living standard of locals has been improved remarkably, he stressed, adding that the locality’s political stability and security and defence are ensured.

The local authorities have also paid heed to promoting foreign relations and international integration, which are expected to help foster the locality’s economic growth in the coming time, Son stressed.

On behalf of the Party and State, President Quang presented the Labour Order, first class to Điện Biên Province in recognition of the local Party Organisation’s and authorities’ contributions to the bidding of the Sơn La hydro-power plant.

Earlier the same day, Vietnamese leaders led by President Quang offered incense to war heroes resting at the A1 Hill Cemetery in the locality.

The Điện Biên Phủ Victory on May 7, 1954 is considered to be a glorious “golden milestone” in the history of the struggle of the Vietnamese people against foreign aggressors. It marked the complete collapse of old colonialism all over the world, paving the way for the movement of rising up to struggle for national liberation in colonial countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Điện Biên Province is home to over 550,000 people from 19 ethnic groups, with 38 percent of the Thai ethnicity, and 34.8 per cent of the H’Mong people. It shares 401km of borders with Laos and China. — VNS