Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaking at the working session. (Photo: VNA)

The Party leader held a working session with An Giang’s key officials on April 15, as part of his two-day trip to the province to inspect the implementation of their socio-economic and defence-security tasks, as well as their performance in building the Party and political system.

Stressing that An Giang has a strategic position in the Mekong Delta, General Secretary Trong acknowledged that the province has made important achievements in recent times, as manifested in the improved infrastructure, better living conditions for residents and a lower poverty rate among households.

He also noted that the local leadership has continuously been strengthened, helping the province to effectively implement the Party Central Committee’s resolutions and accelerate administrative reform.

He expressed his hope for stronger development for the province in its chosen direction of developing hi-quality and high-value agriculture, considering the province as having many untapped advantages and potential.

The Party General Secretary shared the local officials concern that the tasks ahead are difficult with high requirements, while there are many shortcomings in the existing policies and mechanisms and difficulties in sourcing capital, adding that those problems are not belong to An Giang but also many other localities.

Therefore, An Giang should strive to have more creative ideas and effective measures to carry out the Party’s policies, he said. In order to do that, the province needs a contingent of capable officials, Party members and civil workers, as well as a strong Party organisation and political system, he said.

He noted and welcomed the province’s five proposals on transport connectivity; erosion prevention; response to climate change and rising sea levels; policies to create a land fund for attracting investment and developing agriculture; and support for border localities.

The Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vo Thi Anh Xuan reported to the Party leader that the poverty rate in the province has dropped to 5.24%.

The province has adopted a project on creating a land fund for hi-tech agriculture, which has helped to attract many investors in agriculture. During the two years of 2016 and 2017, An Giang attracted 45 investment projects in this sector, with total capital of over VND7.2 trillion (US$316.8 million), up 30 projects and VND6 trillion compared to the figures in 2015.

Also during the trip, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong toured My Phu commune in Chau Phu district, and visited the construction site of Cao Lanh Bridge across Tien River, one of the two tributaries of the Mekong River. He also visited and presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mother Le Thi Tai in Long Xuyen city.