A view of the Đỗ Quyên Waterfall in the Bạch Mã National Park in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế. The province has made efforts to boost green and sustainable economic development in an environmentally-friendly manner. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Minh Tâm

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân has urged the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế to strive for economic breakthroughs while preserving environmental resources.

Speaking with the province’s authorities during a working visit on Saturday, Ngân highly noted the encouraging outcomes in the province’s efforts to boost green and sustainable economic development.

She asked the province to push ahead with its Party and political system building while making breakthroughs in economic development in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner.

She suggested local authorities to examine investment projects to soon remove obstacles facing them, boost forest protection in Bạch Mã National Park, promote social welfare and improve human resources development.

The province also needs to pay more attention to the preservation and promotion of cultural values, she added, especially the Complex of Huế Monuments, nhã nhạc (Vietnamese court music), the woodblocks and royal records of the Nguyễn Dynasty and literature on the Huế royal architecture, all cultural heritage artefacts recognised by UNESCO.

The top legislator complimented the province on its average annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent. Its growth rate in the first half of 2019 was 6.87 per cent, higher than the national average of 6.76 per cent.

Its tourism services, with an expansion of 6.37 per cent and tourist numbers of 2.49 million in the past six months, have helped its per capita income rank fourth in the central region, after Đà Nẵng City and Khánh Hòa and Bình Thuận provinces.

Ngân also spoke highly of the province’s efforts in ensuring social welfare, expanding health coverage to 98 per cent of its population, and protecting the environment. She cited the 'Green Sunday' and 'Say no to plastic bags and disposable plastic products' movements as examples.

Also on Saturday, the parliamentary leader visited some households set to be relocated from areas around the walls of the ancient citadel in Huế City. — VNS