State President Truong Tan Sang has praised northern mountainous Ha Giang province’s efforts to effectively carry out poverty reduction projects, improve quality of vocational training and create jobs for local people.

President Sang made the comment at a working session with the provincial authorities, as part of his visit to Ha Giang province on Dec. 10 and 11.

The President spoke highly of Ha Giang’s achievements recorded in the first year of implementing the 11th National Party Congress’s Resolution, with an economic growth rate of 13 percent.

He noted with pleasure that the province has witnessed positive changes in various fields, especially in personnel training, infrastructure development and maintaining peace and friendship along the borderline.

The President suggested the provincial trade sector adopt solutions to attract commodities from other localities nationwide to increase export revenues and incomes.

He also requested the province authorities to halve the current number of poor households by 2015.

Earlier, President Sang and his entourage laid a wreath at a monument dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Meo Vac town. He visited and presented gifts to poor families in Pa Vi village in Meo Vac town and made fact-finding tours of pilot new-style rural models in Sung La tourism-culture village in Dong Van district.

President Sang also called at Dong Van district and came to the site where Lung Cu flag tower stands as a symbol of national sovereignty in the northernmost area of the country and met with soldiers and officers of Lung Cu Border Guard Post.

The President commended soldiers and officers on their fulfillment of tasks and asked them to strictly implement the Vietnam-China land border agreement in order to build a common border of long-term stability and cooperation./.