Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (first, left) plants a tree at a ceremony held on Sunday in Nghệ An Province in response to the programme on planting 1 billion trees. — VNA/VNS Photo

NGHỆ AN — Central Nghệ An Province should work harder to attract major and strategic projects, thus creating remarkable changes, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told local key officials at a working session on Sunday.

PM Phúc lauded the central province’s efforts to achieve a growth rate of 7.2 per cent and budget collection of over VNĐ17 trillion (US$739.72 million).

The government leader urged the province to promote the spirit of innovation and creativity, as well as traditional cultural values, both tangible and intangible, in the future.

A drastic and specific action programme is needed to implement the resolutions adopted at the 13th National Party Congress and the provincial Party Congress, he said.

PM Phúc asked Nghệ An to pay more heed to urban expansion and development, which, he said, holds significance to the province.

As the centre of the north central region, Nghệ An needs to develop further and form hubs of education-training, culture, entertainment and tourism, the PM said.

He suggested mobilising different economic sectors to spur service development and production, ensure security and order, and attract more talents and rich people to the province.

Also on Sunday, the PM attended the inauguration ceremony of Cửa Hội bridge linking Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh provinces.

Construction of the bridge, spanning Lam River, began in February 2019, with total cost of VNĐ950 billion, with VNĐ450 billion from government bonds and the remainder from the two provinces.

The bridge is of significance as it contributes to completing the coastal route connecting the two provinces and facilitating the development of maritime tourism and economy.

The same day, he attended a ceremony in response to the programme on planting 1 billion trees jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the province at the Truông Bồn national historical relic site.

The PM also paid tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at the Kim Liên special national relic site in Nam Đàn District, and to heroic martyrs at the Truông Bồn national historical relic site that witnessed the sacrifice of Vietnamese soldiers and people, especially young volunteers, during the war against the US imperialists. — VNS