The northern mountainous province of Dien Bien should continue maintaining its high economic growth rate but focus on the quality, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

While working with the provincial Party Committee during his Jan. 19-20 visit, the Party leader suggested the province should pay attention to investment in tourism and service in order to make it the locality’s key industry.

The province must turn its strengths into momentums for socio-economic development and poverty reduction, he said.

Forests have a strategic significance for the country in general and Dien Bien province in particular, he said, adding that the province must do well forest planning and protection and take proper measures for forest-borne residents.

According to the General Secretary, to reach a rapid and sustainable development, Dien Bien province should pay special attention to education and training with suitable policies to attract talents and train officials, especially ethnic minority people and women.

He asked the provincial Party Committee to make good preparations for the party congresses at all levels scheduled for this year.

He praised the province’s socio-economic development achievements during the 2006-2009 period with an average annual economic growth rate of 11.21 percent, fulfilling its target set by the Resolution of the 11 th provincial Party Committee Congress.

The province’s per-capita income increased from 4.46 million VND in 2005 to 9.7 million VND in 2009 and its import-export turnover reached 9.2 million USD, including 5.2 million USD from exports, last year.

During the reviewed period, Dien Bien province wiped out nearly 20,000 makeshift shlters for poor people and generated jobs for 28,000 labourers. The poverty rate reduced to 34.57 percent, down 9.45 percent against 2005.

On the day, General Secretary Manh visited and presented gifts to children at the Dien Bien Phu SOS Village and workers at the Dien Bien Rubber Joint Stock Company. He also paid tribute to heroes and fallen combatants at the Dien Bien Phu Martyrs’ Cemetery./.