Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said he hopes the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will fully harness its strength and potential to become a centrally-run city by 2015 and a major hub of Southeast Asia by 2020.

The Party leader made the remark at a working session with provincial officials in the locality on March 17.

To that end, Thua Thien-Hue needs to devise appropriate development programmes targeting foreign investment to regional connectivity, he noted.

The province currently possesses much development potential, such as a large number of intellectuals sourcing a high quality workforce, sea-based economic advantages and many pieces of cultural heritage, he added.

Reports at the session said that between 2011 and 2013, Thua Thien-Hue attained an annual economic growth rate of over 10 percent while its collection for the State budget rose by 12.1 percent annually.

During the period, the province’s gross domestic product per capita reached 1,700 USD, up more than 1.6 times from the figure in 2009. Tourism revenue grew 19 percent year on year while household poverty has been brought down to 6.5 percent.

On the same day, General Secretary Trong visited residents in Hong Ha commune, A Luoi district – the most impoverished locality of Thua Thien-Hue.

Vietnam now has five centrally-run cities, namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho.-VNA