Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ meets with voters from the province’s Hương Sơn and Nghi Xuân districts on Saturday and Sunday.— Photo chinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — The impact of free trade agreements on special economic zones and farmers being hurt by bumper harvests were among concerns raised by voters in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ in Hà Tĩnh Province during the weekend.

Huệ met with voters from the province’s Hương Sơn and Nghi Xuân districts on Saturday and Sunday to collect feedback and proposals for the upcoming fourth meeting of the 14th National Assembly (NA).

The voters spoke highly of efforts by the NA, as well as NA deputies representing the province, in making laws and handling complaints from citizens.

They also appreciated the Government’s initiative to build a transparent, facilitative and innovative administration for the benefit of people and business, and voiced support for solutions preventing corruption and improving the business climate. 

Huệ affirmed that voters’ wishes were the goals for all actions taken by the Government and the NA. He updated them on the country’s socio-economic development and answered their questions. 

Phan Tiến Hùng, a voter from Hương Sơn District, wanted the Government to issue separate policies for non-tariff areas because he was concerned that special economic zones would be hurt by the elimination of duties under Free Trade Agreements that Việt Nam has signed.

The deputy PM said ministries would review all coastal and border gate economic zones and find new ways to maintain their development. 

Several voters told the deputy PM that more policy support and incentives were needed to help farmers who get hurt by falling prices that follow bumper harvests.

Huệ promised to discuss the issue with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Governor of the State Bank. He said the Government was formulating a decision on agricultural insurance and attracting investment to boost the sector.

Also on Saturday, Huệ visited residents in Kỳ Anh Town, and the districts of Kỳ Anh and Cẩm Xuân that were affected by the storm Doksuri recently.

Among other northern central coastal provinces, Hà Tĩnh was hardest hit by Doksuri, the 10th storm from the East Sea. One of the most powerful storms in many years, Doksuri left nine dead, four missing and 112 injured.

Huệ and his encourage also visited the Kỳ Thịnh 2 Elementary School in Kỳ Thịnh District, Kỳ Anh Town, and a kindergarten in Kỳ Lâm Commune, Kỳ Anh District.

They presented gifts worth VNĐ1.2 billion (US$52,800) raised by organisations, individuals and donors to 15 households in Kỳ Anh and Cẩm Xuyên districts.

The deputy PM asked Hà Tĩnh to review its losses, especially in disadvantaged localities, so as to take suitable measures to overcome the storm’s consequences.

He granted gifts to children, the disabled and homeless people in the provincial orphanage.

The deputy PM stressed that the Party and the Government always paid particular attention to people living in difficult circumstances. — VNS