Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a working session with leaders of Dien Bien province on September 6 to examine the implementation of the Party Politburo’s Resolution 37 on the northern midland region’s socio-economic development. Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Lo Mai Trinh reported that since 2005, Dien Bien has achieved an average annual economic growth rate of 11.62 percent, which is higher than the target set in Resolution 37. Income per capita is estimated at VND11 million per year, he said. Dien Bien has also expanded its ties with northern Lao provinces and China’s Yunnan province. However, Deputy PM Phuc pointed out there remain some outstanding issues such as poor infrastructure, high percentage of poverty, and potential threats to local security and defence. He urged Dien Bien province to uphold the spirit of patriotism and solidarity among ethnic minorities and focus on poverty alleviation, taking synchronous and drastic measures to prevent the spread of drug addiction, drug-related crimes and HIV/AIDS. (vovnews.vn Sept 7)
