Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged Cao Bang province to utilise its agricultural and forestry potential, and encouraged the development of household-based economy to rise out of poverty.

At a working session with provincial authorities in Hanoi on January 7, Dung also suggested that the province should boost tourism services and expand trade with neighbouring Chinese localities.

He reminded the province to pay attention to sustainable and environmentally friendly mineral mining, and pledged to create favourable conditions for the province to grow.

Nguyen Hoang Anh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the committee and people’s efforts have helped the development of the local socio-economy.

Anh said the province recorded GDP growth of 9.5 percent, achieved a per capita annual income of 15.2 million VND (735 USD) and reduced the rate of poor households by 4.6 percent last year.

The material and spiritual lives of local residents have improved, and political security and social order are strengthened, he added.

The same day, at a working session with authorities from the northern Ha Giang province, Dung asked the locality to focus investment on projects essential for local socio-economic development.

He said the province should pay more attention to trade with China , in the spirit of cooperation, friendship and mutual benefit to safeguard the border and sovereignty over national territory.

Dam Van Bong, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the province is aiming for a GDP growth of 12.5 percent this year - compared to 10.78 percent in 2012 - and will try to reduce the rate of poor households to 25.6 percent.

Participants at the working session also discussed how to remove challenges facing border and southern districts, funding for water reservoirs, transport and irrigation works, and completing the infrastructure of border markets.-VNA