HẢI PHÒNG – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc visited workers in the northern port city of Hải Phòng on Wednesday ahead of Tết (Lunar New Year), the biggest and most important holiday in Việt Nam. 

The PM said the Party and State always pay attention to policies to take better care of workers materially and spiritually.

He hailed the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour for caring for trade unionists and employees, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and families on social welfare.

Its programmes have helped workers in industrial and processing parks nationwide enjoy a warm Tết holiday over the years, he noted.

Earlier the same day, PM Phúc had a working session with municipal authorities, during which he extolled the city for fulfilling their socio-economic development plans for 2018.

Specifically, Hải Phòng led the country in gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth, at 16.27 per cent, the highest level so far and 2.3 times the nation’s average (7.08 per cent).

The local economic structure had improved with the establishment of high-tech agricultural parks, while all communes in Hải Phòng were recognised as new-style rural areas.

The city also led in industrial production, especially automobile manufacturing.

These outcomes have laid a foundation for Hải Phòng to set higher targets and make stronger strides, PM Phúc said, suggesting the city promote social investment for further development.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ visited and presented gifts to poor households and children living in Thung Nai and Bình Thanh communes, Cao Phong District in the northern province of Hoà Bình, for the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.

In discussing the poor living conditions of disadvantaged households in the two communes, Huệ emphasised that the Party and State’s policy is to ensure all Vietnamese people can enjoy a warm Tết. Therefore, the Party, State, social organisations, and individual donors have paid particular attention to caring for those less fortunate during the Tết holidays.

Priority has been given to improving not only the material, but also spiritual life of people, especially those living in disadvantaged circumstances.

He added that the State is speeding up agricultural restructuring, new-style rural area building, production development, and job generation in rural areas, thus raising the living standards of local people.

The Deputy PM asked local Party organisations and authorities to continue supporting poor households and policy beneficiaries, and to encourage them to exert efforts to overcome their difficulties.

He presented 100 gifts worth VNĐ1.3 million (US$56) each to poor households, and 300 gifts worth VNĐ500,000 each to underprivileged students. Authorities from Hòa Bình Province also granted 100 presents worth VNĐ1.3 million each to local poor families.

PM inspects combat readiness

Also on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc inspected the combat readiness of the Naval High Command in the northern port city of Hải Phòng.

In a teleconference linking Trường Sa Lớn, Nam Yết, and Sinh Tồn islands, he conveyed his New Year wishes to soldiers and locals living and working in the Trường Sa island district.

Talking with naval staff, the PM affirmed that the country’s socio-economic achievements in 2018 were partly attributable to the work of the Việt Nam People’s Army, including the Navy.

He hailed the force for fulfilling tasks assigned by the Ministry of Defence’s Central Military Commission, conducting search and rescue operations, and supporting other forces and fishing vessels at sea.

The PM wished that the naval force would continue successfully performing the task of safeguarding national sovereignty, fostering internal solidarity, and accomplishing tasks assigned by the Party, State, army, and people in 2019.

They were also required to expand external defence relations and international co-operation, especially with ASEAN member states. – VNS