HÀ NỘI — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has highlighted the role of education in promoting socio-economic development in the northern mountainous province of Hà Giang, saying that it should be a key way to remove bottlenecks in the locality’s development process.

The State leader made the suggestion at a ceremony to celebrate the 130th founding anniversary of the province's establishment on December 8, during which he urged the local authorities to pay heed to improving the quality of education.  

Education must be a decisive factor in helping local people access knowledge, skills and experience, and improve their self-learning capacity, he said.

The President also emphasised the importance of social policies in ensuring social security and promoting poverty reduction in the province, noting that the locality needed to increase investment in education, and ensure health care and welfare for its people.

Hà Giang should find a new economic growth model on the basis of its own potential and advantages, and focus on improving the business and investment environment, accelerating administrative reforms, and mobilising investment resources, he said.

Priority should be given to infrastructure upgrade and development and key economic sectors, President Phúc added.

He asked the local authorities to ensure comprehensive development of people living in ethnic minority areas, focusing on programmes and projects on sustainable poverty reduction.

The President also requested the province give special attention to building an all-people national defence, ensuring religious security, and rural and border security, protecting the environment, adapting to climate change, and preserving and promoting cultural identities of ethnic groups.

Earlier the same day, President Phúc offered incense to commemorate heroes and martyrs at Vị Xuyên National Martyrs' Cemetery, and offered flowers in tribute to late President Hồ Chí Minh at his statue in the campus of the provincial Party Committee.

The same day, President Phúc visited and presented gifts to families of war veterans, poor ex-revolutionaries and households who receive housing support in Việt Vinh commune. 

Over 5,100 families of war veterans and poor households have benefited from a support programme on house construction over the past two years by the provincial Party Committee. 

Since 2015, Hà Giang’s economy has grown stably, with its GDP growth reaching an average of 6.8 per cent.

The provincial 17th Party Congress is set to develop Hà Giang into a locality with developed trade, services, tourism and agriculture. — VNS