Reporter: Could you brief us on the province’s recent socio-economic development?

Mr Cham: Last year, Ha Giang province hit many of its socio-economic development targets despite some common difficulties such as the bird flu epidemic, foot-and-mouth disease, drought and water shortages. Worthy of note, the province recorded a high economic growth rate of 11 percent, the highest level so far. In addition, other major targets, including budget collection, agricultural and rural development, and investment attraction, were also met.

Based on our achievements, Ha Giang province has maintained a high socio-economic growth rate in the first quarter of the year, particularly in the agro-forestry-fisheries sector. We gave special attention to encouraging ethnic minority farmers to raise cattle for trading and to plant grasses and forests to help improve their lives.

In the first quarter of the year, industry sector also achieved high growth rates, especially the services sector which increased by 16.4 percent against the corresponding period last year. More and more domestic and foreign tourists are flocking to Ha Giang province, which helped the province improve its economic structure.

The local authorities have paid due attention to developing culture and education; the province has also launched a movement to “say no to negative cases and achievement disease in examination”.

Targets on security, national defence, cultural and social development have been well achieved. Labour exports also registered high results compared to last year.

With such achievements in the first quarter of 2007, Ha Giang province will surely achieve its socio-economic targets for 2007, thanks to favourable conditions and great support from the provincial sectors.

Reporter: How does Ha Giang province plan to successfully fulfil its socio-economic targets for 2007?

Mr Cham: First, the province is urging local people, ethnic minority groups, Party members and officers to get involved in socio-economic development and provincial efforts to reduce poverty.

In addition, Ha Giang province continues to call for investment. It has released a number of policies which provide the most possible preferential treatment to investors. Particularly, the province is urging investors to invest in such fields as mineral exploration, hydro-electric power plants, agriculture, and farming. We are also steadily shifting from using the State Budget to private economic sectors for investment.

Currently, Ha Giang province is paying due attention to improving the capacity of its agricultural officers, commune veterinarians and officers at border areas. State agencies have been improved, particularly in weak communes, helping better boost socio-economic development in the province.

Outlets for products and consumption markets have also caught the interest from the local authorities. This year, we will continue to develop products in line with the integration process by implementing investment promotion policies, organizing fairs and exhibitions, and promoting trademarks for strong provincial products, including tea, oranges and rice.

In addition, the province will facilitate external affairs, economic activities, border demarcation and marker planting, as well as calling for more foreign investment to the locality.

Reporter: As 90 percent of the province’s population are from ethnic minorities, how does Ha Giang implement policies on culture and education and taking care of its people’s lives?

Mr Cham: Ha Giang is a province whose population is mainly from ethnic minority people. With this in mind, all policies on socio-economic development in the province focus on ethnic minority people and people in extremely difficult areas. We are implementing Government’s targeted programmes, including Programmes 134 and 135, and programme to provide loans for poverty reduction in poor communes. Moreover, we are also carrying out foreign projects on poverty reduction with a focus on ethnic minority groups.

In terms of education and training, Ha Giang plans to increase the number of teachers and build schools at communes and hamlets. The province is determined to build boarding schools for pupils at remote and far-flung areas to attend.

In addition, Ha Giang has just launched an emulation movement in response to the 12^th National Assembly election. Accordingly, the province will halve the number of 6,900 shelters and all poor households will borrow money from the policy bank to buy cattle for economic development.

Reporter: Thank you very much.