Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has emphasised the need for the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh to better exploit its potentials and advantages for fast and sustainable development.

The Party leader made the statement while working with the Standing Board of the provincial Party’s Committee during his two-day Tet visit to Quang Ninh on Feb. 8 and 9.

Manh highlighted Quang Ninh’s relative high economic growth rate, its positive economic restructuring and industrial development, growth in capital mobilisation and basic construction despite several difficulties in 2009.

Other advancements were also seen in socio-culture, people’s health care, poverty reduction, hunger eradication and other fields, he noted.

Connected with land and railway traffic clues and sea ports, Quang Ninh boasts large minerals reserves including coal, limestone, clays and forests, said the Party leader, adding that it also homes long coast and beautiful beaches and the world’s natural heritage Ha Long Bay.

He stressed Quang Ninh’s big advantages as one of three development poles in the northern key economic region and one of five provinces in the “two corridors and one economic belt” of Vietnam-China cooperation.

Quang Ninh should continue settling difficulties, developing economic sectors and attracting and effectively utilising resources for investment and development, Manh noted.

Apart from focusing on economic development, he suggested the province to pay attention to socio-cultural development and environmental protection, especially protecting and preserving Ha Long Bay – the valuable natural landscape.

According to the report of the provincial Party’s Committee, Quang Ninh recorded an economic growth rate of 10.03 percent, an industrial production value of 23.7 trillion VND and its annual per-capita income reached 1,278 USD last year. It also recorded a clean coal output of 39.7 million tonnes and sold 42 million tonnes in 2009.

A number of big thermo-electric power projects, along with cement and mechanics plans have been completed. They include the Uong Bi, Quang Ninh and Cam Pha power projects; the Thang Long, Ha Long and Cam Pha cement plants, and equipment manufacturing plant in Uong Bi town.

While in Quang Ninh, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited workers of the 507 civil engineering construction company under the Civil Engineering Construction Corporation No. 5. He also presented gifts to war veteran Do Chi Dinh in Hon Gai ward and Vu Ngoc Hai in Ha Lam ward for 25 years of working in the mines./.