President Truong Tan Sang has called on central Thua Thien-Hue province to take full the advantage of its strategic position in the central coastal region to become a unique centre of culture, tourism, health and education.

The President met with local leaders during his visit to the province on March 3.

Sang said he was pleased at the development of Thua Thien-Hue’s agricultural sector, which has overcome the difficulties facing the national economy. The province’s contribution to the State budget is the highest among the central provinces.
 
He also stressed that the province needs to further exploit its potential for tourism in order to boost income.

Apart from taking intensive work to preserve relics in the ancient capital of Hue, the province must diversify the activities open to tourists and continue upgrading airports to allow a growing number of tourists to visit, the President added.

He urged local authorities to cooperate more with other countries on the East-West Economic Corridor while suggesting they work with the Government to complete key road and marine transport projects so that the region can benefit from the potentially lucrative trade agreement recently agreed between Vietnam, ASEAN and China.

Later the same day, President Sang attended a ceremony to celebrate Vietnamese Doctors’ Day held in Hue Central Hospital and paid a visit to Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone, which since its establishment six years ago has attracted 32 investment projects, 12 of which have already become operational.-VNA