PM Phúc speaks at the session, where he lauded 11 provinces and Hà Nội for their socio-political stability, sustainable economic growth and high revenues to the State budget. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chaired a working session in the northern province of Yên Bái on Wednesday between the 13th National Party Congress’s sub-committee on socio-economic affairs and leaders of 12 localities. 
It was the fifth working session between the two sides. Leaders from the northern mountainous provinces of Yên Bái, Cao Bằng, Phú Thọ, Sơn La, Hòa Bình, Lào Cai, Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Hà Giang, the central provinces of Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa and Hà Nội attended the event. 
Speaking at the event, PM Phúc asked the sub-committee to work closely with local authorities to build 2021-25 socio-economic development orientations and 2021-30 socio-economic development strategy in preparation for the 13th National Party Congress. 
He lauded 11 provinces and Hà Nội for their socio-political stability, sustainable economic growth and high revenues to the State budget. The rate of poor households in many localities has been reduced to 4-6 per cent. 
The leader highlighted the northern mountainous region’s important role in protecting ecological environment and directing water for daily use in the Red River Delta and the capital city. 
He requested local lives are improved because the regional poverty rate tops 17 per cent, higher than the country’s average of nearly 7 per cent while sustainably developing forestry and stabilising border security. 
Education remains poor in the region so more efforts should be taken to fix it, Phúc said.
The PM suggested fully tapping each locality’s comparative advantage, boosting imports-exports to China, effectively using land to develop cultivation and animal husbandry. 
He agreed with localities’ suggestion to build new special policies, enhance investment in infrastructure using official development assistance and other social resources. 
About regional development orientations, he proposed expanding cooperation with not only Hà Nội but also other regional markets. 
He assigned the Transport Ministry and the Government Office to collect feedback to deal with regional infrastructure issues. — VNS