President Trần Đại Quang meets voters in HCM City’s Districts 1, 3 and 4 yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HCM CITY – Voters in HCM City’s Districts 1, 3 and 4 told President Trần Đại Quang yesterday that they were concerned by the deteriorating natural environment in the country.

They said they were also worried about the failure to settle complaints about land use rights.

Worsened traffic congestion in the city was another concern, they told the President as the latter collected voters’ feedback ahead of next month’s parliamentary session. 

Agreeing that protecting the environment had become an urgent task, Quang said Việt Nam has adopted the stance of not sacrificing the environment for economic development at any cost.

He said the environmental impacts of all projects will be carefully evaluated to ensure sustainable growth. 

The Government has recently halted several projects with dubious environmental impact assessments, he noted. 

The Party, State and localities were paying great attention to the question of settling land disputes, the President said. 

Referring to the recent incident in Đồng Tâm Commune in Hà Nội, the Party Central Committee has directed Hà Nội leaders to draw proper lessons from it and prevent similar occurrences in the future, the President told voters. 

While authorities should maintain discipline, they should also stay close to voters and sort out their problems through constructive dialogues, Quang said.

He also noted down voters’ opinions on a number of draft laws including the revised Law on Corruption Prevention and Control, a guiding decree on the Land Law and revisions to the Law on Denunciation.

President Trần Đại Quang on the same day also met with voters in HCM City’s Cần Giờ District.

He suggested Cần Giờ look towards rapid and sustainable development with a focus on marine economy, agriculture, and ecological-historical-craft village tourism. 

HCM City should improve Cần Giờ’s transport infrastructure, Quang said, accelerating the construction of a bridge connecting Cần Giờ with Nhà Bè district while strengthening dykes to prevent erosion in response to climate change. 

“I am honoured to have been born and raised in Cần Giờ,” a resident of An Thới Đông Commune told the President.

“This place contributed so much to the American War but the infrastructure and the roads are yet to be developed to meet residents’ demand,” he said.

A number of residents also proposed ideas to promote agricultural production and investment attraction.

As the only coastal and poorest district of the southern metropolis, the municipal authorities must promptly consider locals’ suggestions regarding capital, animal breeds and plant varieties, technological application in goods manufacturing, and education-training, Quang said, adding that further attention should be paid to social welfares, poverty reduction, vocational training and job creation. 

He urged them to fine-tune support policies for the poor, armed forces, war heroes and those in charge of protecting and managing biosphere forests. – VNS