Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday urged localities and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports to step up inspections of upcoming New Year festival celebrations to ensure the events are held in a solemn and safe manner. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday urged localities and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports to step up inspections of upcoming New Year festival celebrations to ensure the events are held in a solemn and safe manner.

The ministry must conduct inspections and impose punishments for negative behaviours such as service fee hikes at festivals, he said.

In a dispatch sent to ministries, sectors and localities on the first working day of the Lunar New Year, the PM ordered cadres, civil servants and public employees to follow administrative and labour disciplinary practices, especially no delays due to the Tết holiday and those related to production, manufacturing and investment.

Employees of ministries, sectors and localities are not allowed to go to festivals during working hours or use State-owned cars to visit festivals, except when performing their duties. Leaders of agencies and localities are not allowed to attend festivals if they are not assigned to do so by authorities.

Chairing the Government meeting on the first working day, PM Phúc said 2019 would be a year of breakthroughs to reach the targets of the five-year socio-economic development plan. This year also marks 50 years of implementing President Hồ Chí Minh’s will.

“The Government needs to take drastic and innovative actions to obtain better performance in 2019,” he said.

PM Phúc told ministries and localities to uphold their responsibilities in the healthcare, education, energy, transport and public security sectors to avoid bureaucracy and gain public trust.

PM visits agricultural company

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday urged Đồng Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (DOVECO) to apply advanced technology in production to improve its productivity.

The leader visited the company in northern Ninh Bình Province’s Tam Điệp District. DOVECO is one of the country’s leading businesses in processing exported food.

According to PM Phúc, besides traditional knowledge about water, fertiliser and stocks, Việt Nam’s agriculture sector needs to focus on technology, a decisive factor in improving productivity and competitiveness.

The PM mentioned automated robots, big data, information and communication technology, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and 3D printing, among others.

DOVECO is a typical example of switching from a farm to a joint stock company and applying technology in production. The company has not only created networks among farmers but also fostered co-operation between localities nationwide to produce various types of products, according to the Prime Minister.

This is a successful agricultural model in which farmers’ benefits are ensured and land management proves efficient.

“Smart agriculture, along with a digital economy, can be a strategic driving force to help Việt Nam become an upper-middle income economy by 2035 and create an equal, sustainable and culturally rich society in rural areas,” he said.

PM Phúc highlighted the important role of agriculture, farmers and rural areas, and urged relevant ministries to create favourable conditions to make changes in the sector, aiming at massive production not only to meet demand of nearly 100 million of Vietnamese people but also to boost exports. — VNS