HẢI PHÒNG — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and the National Assembly (NA) deputy delegation of Hải Phòng City met with voters in Cát Hải District on Saturday on the outcomes of the NA’s freshly-concluded 8th session.

PM Phúc told the voters that amid difficulties caused by the impacts of the decline in global economy and trade, as well as natural disasters and diseases in the country, Việt Nam’s economy still maintains a high growth rate, people’s living standards have been improved remarkably and the gap between rich and poor reduced.

He affirmed that the Government will continue working to build on the achievements in the future.

The Government leader informed the voters that the Government has plans to develop the Lạch Huyện deep-water port and upgrade several major infrastructure projects in the city, adding that he has instructed ministries and agencies to coordinate with Hải Phòng to help the city make stronger advances.

He said it is an honour for Việt Nam to play two important roles in 2020 – Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He stressed that the country will do its best to fulfill those regional and international responsibilities.

Explaining his viewpoint that Việt Nam should strive to become not only an economic but also cultural power, PM Phúc said in the context of comprehensive integration, the preservation of the traditional culture of the country and of each ethnic group is a task of equal importance with economic development. 

The PM also spoke about solutions to assist the development of the private sector, which he described as an important part in national development. 

Workers honoured with Labour Order

A music performance to mark the 90th traditional day of the city’s workers. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

A ceremony was held in Hải Phòng City on Saturday to mark the 90th traditional day of the city’s workers (November 24) and the 90th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s first cell in the port (November 28).

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, PM Phúc presented the third-class Labour Order to the cadres and workers of Hải Phòng Port in recognition of their particularly excellent contributions to national development.

The first generation of the port’s workers was formed in 1874, when the French colonialists began to build the first wharves in Hải Phòng. With an undaunted spirit, local workers fought against unjust treatment, thus greatly contributing to the national struggles against colonialists and imperialists.
On November 24, 1929, the fight against port owners by 500 workers achieved complete success, and this date became the traditional day of local workers.
During the resistance war against the US, a number of emulation movements were launched among workers of the port. Besides, Hải Phòng Port was not only the place to receive assistance from other socialist countries but also the starting point of the Hồ Chí Minh Trail at Sea.
Its workers stood side by side with military forces to fight and win against raids by the US air force and ensure safety for infrastructure and goods to serve the building of socialism in the north and support the battle against the US in the south.
In the reform period, Hải Phòng Port has been expanded and modernised. Its workers have actively engaged in emulation movements, helping to improve productivity and quality of their performance. From 2009 to 2018, about 1,320 initiatives, mostly proposed by workers, helped the port save VNĐ16.2 billion (over US$700,000).

In 2019, Hải Phòng Port is set to handle 35 million tonnes of cargo, earn more than VNĐ2.2 trillion ($95.7 million) in revenues and over VNĐ600 billion ($26.1 million) in profits, and contribute some VNĐ200 billion ($8.7 million) to the State budget.

According to Secretary of the Hải Phòng municipal Party Committee Lê Văn Thành, the city has a strategic location in terms of socio-economy, security and defence of Việt Nam. Particularly, the over-145-year-old Hải Phòng Port is the most important gateway to the sea of the northern region. Its impressive performance has met the socio-economic development demand of the country. — VNS