Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged north-western provinces to accelerate work on sustainable poverty reduction and regional connectivity, and praised the remote, mountainous region's many positive achievements during the first half of this year. The Deputy PM pointed out orientations for development when he chaired a conference of the Steering Committee for the northwestern region, which was attended by senior officials from relevant central agencies and 14 regional provinces. The conference, held in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang yesterday, aimed to review progress achieved during the first six months and discuss measures to fulfill this year's development targets. Phuc said that in the first half of 2013, northwestern localities worked hard to bring into play their advantages while also improving infrastructure and facilitating new investments. Major economic indicators were positive with a GDP growth over the first half of the year at 8.8 per cent and budget revenues increasing by 14.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. However, Phuc said the localities needed to improve education and training and healthcare, while prioritizing key projects, raising the quality of human resources and preserving the cultural identities of ethnic minorities. He stressed the necessity to build a strong political system at grassroots levels, fight the sabotage plots of hostile forces and prevent factors that may cause instability. He said the first six months had also seen security and national sovereignty ensured while leadership and management quality of local authorities also improved. However, participants also highlighted difficulties that people face in resettlement areas and the failings and ineffectual leadership from some authorities. (Vietnam News July 12)
