Hai Phong should intensify environmental protection: PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stressed the need for the northern port city of Hai Phong to protect the environment to maintain the living standards of locals as it boasts strong industrial economic development.

Meeting with the city’s voters on August 3, PM Phuc affirmed the Government’s viewpoint of not swapping the environment for development, as well as its determination to strictly punish environmental violations.

Mentioning the environmental incident in the central coast, which is attracting much attention from people nationwide, he stated that the Government had directed ministries, agencies and localities to implement measures to address the incident’s consequences, and asked the Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company to fulfil its commitments.

The Government will clarify the responsibility of and strictly punish organisations and individuals involved in the incident, he added.

PM Phuc also clarified several issues of concern to voters, including the concept “the Government designing and spurring growth”.

According to him, a Government that designs and spurs growth is a Government that can do State management well, by effectively using tools to spur growth such as the improvement of institutions, policies and laws, and environmental protection to serve the demands of people and enterprises.

Regarding the new-style rural area building programme, the Government leader stated that the Government gives high priority to the programme and provides great resources for it.

Agreeing with voters’ proposal on upgrading the city’s transport infrastructure, particularly its railway, he said that this conforms with the target of boosting the city’s socio-economic development and increasing connectivity between the city and other localities.

He expressed his hope that Hai Phong will strive to become one of the localities leading the nation in education and training.

He shared voters’ worries about food safety and hygiene, confirming that the new tenure Government will pay special attention to combating unsafe and poor quality food.

The Government requires ministries, agencies and localities to carry out specific measures to change the awareness of production and processing enterprises, and also of households, of food hygiene and safety, he said, adding that the Government will intensify inspections and strictly punish any violations.

On another matter, the PM stressed that sea and islands are a sacred and integral territorial part of the nation, and safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the responsibility of each Vietnamese citizen.

He requested Hai Phong’s forces to continue increasing vigilance to protect the national sea and islands.

The Government leader continued by saying that the Government is determined to fight against corruption and wastefulness.-VNA