State President Nguyen Minh Triet has asked the northern province of Hai Duong to further develop agriculture with focus on raising capacity, output and production value as the sector remains the backbone of the national economy.

President Triet made the request during his visit to the locality on Jan. 18 and 19. He said that Vietnam ’s strong agriculture has helped mitigate the impact of the global economic-financial crisis on its economy.

He said that Hai Duong’s agricultural production value remains lows, standing at a mere 30 million VND per ha per year. Meanwhile, the value hit between 50-70 million VND per ha in many other localities.

President Triet said that to create breakthroughs in economic growth, the province must have a developed transport infrastructure.

He also asked Hai Duong to focus on attracting hi-tech investments in industrial zones in the province.

President Triet praised Hai Duong for its achievements in socio-economic development, national defence and social security.

Hai Duong obtained an economic growth rate of 9.7 percent in the 2006-2009 period, higher than the national level.

In 2009, the province’s GDP grew 5.9 percent, higher than the national level of 5.32 percent. Its rural economic structure has been developed towards increasing animal husbandry, aquaculture and services.

While in Hai Duong, President Triet visited and presented gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mother Nguyen Thi Dep, 86, and revolutionary cadre Tran Van Tang, 94, both in Chi Linh district./.