NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân presents gifts to war invalid Võ Ngọc Thoại in Vĩnh Long city. — VNA/VNS PhotoTrọng Đức

VĨNH LONG —  Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thi Kim Ngân yesterday asked the Mekong Delta province of Vĩnh Long to create economic breakthroughs to secure sustainable incomes. 

Economic breakthroughs should go in tandem with economic restructuring and growth model reform, the top legislator said at a working session with local officials as part of her visit to the province. 

Pointing out unstable agricultural development, Ngân urged Vĩnh Long to restructure agricultural, renew product designs and build brand names for products. 

The province needs to intensify administrative reform and improve the local business environment to attract more investors, she said. 

In investment attraction, attention should be paid to industry, modern technology, high-tech agriculture and innovative start-ups, the NA Chairwoman said. 

Other tasks include Party building, improving the quality of education and training, public healthcare and child care, she added. 

At the working session, Ngân lauded Vĩnh Long’s efforts in economic development, Party building, national defence, new-style rural area building, poverty reduction and job creation. 

Notably, the locality has looked after contributors to the nation and all 174 living Heroic Vietnamese Mothers in the locality are being taken care of by agencies. 

Vĩnh Long’s economy grew 6.3 per cent annually during 2016-18 and its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita in 2018 reached VND44.8 million (about US$1,947), up 1.3 times against 2015. 

On this occasion, Ngân and her entourage presented funding to build bridges in two disadvantaged communes, and 200 gifts and scholarships to local needy children.

Families of fallen soldiers honoured

A ceremony was held in Vĩnh Long yesterday to present certificates honouring 468 families of fallen soldiers, as part of the activities to mark the 72nd anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27).

Addressing the event, NA Chairwoman Ngân said the Party, State and people always remember the significant contributions of millions of people who sacrificed their lives and rendered services for national independence and reunification. 

The top legislator stated the Party and State are determined to let no revolutionary contributors be forgotten. She said the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs had been assigned to review and identify contributors who had yet to be recognised, particularly due to the loss of documents.

Over the past three years, the ministry has certified nearly 2,000 martyrs and more than 2,600 invalids.

Ngân asked the ministry to continue on its mission and promptly update the outcomes to martyrs’ families.

She also recommended the ministry focus on amending and supplementing the ordinance on preferential policies for revolutionary contributors.

The official took the occasion to wish invalids, families of martyrs and revolutionary contributors good health and happiness.

Earlier the same day, the NA leader, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam, and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung joined local authorities in offering incense and laying wreathes at the Vĩnh Long martyrs’ cemetery. — VNS