President Truong Tan Sang has praised local people in central Quang Tri province for their part in turning the province into one of localities leading in paying gratitude to those who rendered services to the nation and promoting agricultural development.

Sang, however, showed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the province’s relevant agencies in that tasks, during his working session with the provincial authorities on March 2.

In 2012, the province, which borders Laos, recorded an economic growth rate of 8 percent and a 5.7 percent rise in budget collection. All of its 117 communes have accomplished the planning on new rural areas.

It has established Khe Sanh and Lao Bao urban areas on the East-West Economic Corridor, which links with Laos and Thailand , aiming to draw in more local and foreign investments for provincial development.

According to the President, the province’s border gate with Laos can also facilitate its trade with other ASEAN countries and bring it lots of opportunities and challenges when trade liberation is realised among ASEAN by 2015.

Quang Tri, therefore, needs to quickly seek ways to enhance its competitive capacity and that of every business and locality to exploit the advantages held by the border gate, Sang said.

He analysed in depth the lessons drawn from previous economic growth models and asked local authorities to study them thoroughly for designing most appropriate development schemes.

During his stay in Quang Tri, President Sang visited Vinh Thach commune which has had a new facelift since implementing the new rural area building programme.

President Sang reckoned that the locals’ key role in designing, implementing and managing infrastructural facilities of their new rural area can make the outcomes of the new rural area building programme sustainable.

He witnessed donors presenting of 100 cows to poor households in Vinh Thach commune.

Sang offered incense to war fallen combatants at Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery, Road 9 National Martyrs Cemetery, and Quang Tri Citadel Memorial. -VNA