Mr Manh made the statement while working with the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee on the last leg of his January 21-22 tour of the north-western region. 

He requested that the provincial Party Committee select potential areas of focus for the work, and push for breakthroughs in socio-economic development.

Manh said hydroelectricity is a one of Lai Chau’s major assets and it should invest in traffic planning, the resettlement of local residents and develop new production industries for resettled families.

Hydroelectric construction will be a great source of capital to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty as well as for infrastructure construction in disadvantaged areas, thus helping improve the lives of ethnic minorities, he added.

The Party leader also suggested Lai Chau develop its processing industry to create a source of high-quality goods and raise the incomes of local people.

Lai Chau and other north-western provinces should pay special attention to education and training, and establish policies on the training, appointment and duties of officials.

According to a report by the provincial Party Committee, the provincial economy maintained an annual growth rate of 15 percent during the 2006-09 period, almost doubling the figure from 2004. Its food output recorded a 3.6 percent year-on-year increase in 2009 while the number of heads of cattle posted an annual increase of 7.8 percent and its forest coverage reached 42 percent.

In 2008 and 2009, the province also planted more than 4,000 ha of rubber trees in Sin Ho and Phong Tho districts.

All of its communes have completed the universalisation of primary education, and 51 percent have universalised junior secondary education.

The number of poor households in the province fell from 60.4 percent in 2005 to 28.2 percent at present under the new criteria.

Party General Secretary Manh visited Sin Ho district on January 21 and talked with ethnic people in Ta Tu 1, a newly-resettled village. He praised the people in the village for facilitating the pace of construction of the Son La hydroelectric power project.