Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a working session with the officials of the Steering Committees of the Northwest, Southwest and Central Highlands regions in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on March 17 to review their performance.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Head of the Northwest Steering Committee, hailed the tireless efforts of committee heads and officials in managing difficult and sensitive issues in local areas and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country’s most impoverished regions.

In preparation for the upcoming conference between the three committees in July, the Deputy Prime Minister underscored that the current situation is more complicated in regard to border and external security, religious issues and drug crimes, mandating increased oversight in these areas.

Ensuring border security is a key priority, he said, suggesting a strengthened comprehensive political system, intensified external relations and improved living standards for local ethnic minority groups.

He also asked the leaders to improve regional linkages in economics and culture to enable practical outcomes.

Personnel and financial management and border road and socio-economic development projects were among his other requests to relevant bodies.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded efforts made by the Vietnam News Agency, including its publication and delivery of the Tin Tuc Newspaper to these regions which effectively disseminates the activities of the committees and the country.

He urged the newspaper and other media types to diversify their communication methods to meet the demands of locals, particularly ethnic minority communities.-VNA