This was emphasised by President Nguyen Minh Triet at a working session with Ninh Binh’s provincial leaders on July 29.

Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, Ninh Binh’s GDP growth still reached 15.35 percent in 2009. Social welfare, security and defence, and Party building all made significant progress. Ninh Binh now ranks third among Vietnam’s provinces in the number of schools meeting national standards. Social welfare and poverty reduction have been vigorously pursued in poor areas.

President Triet said that in addition to promoting industry, tourism, and transportation, the province should further improve its investment environment to attract both domestic and foreign investors and train human resources to meet their increasing demand.

During his two-day stay in Ninh Binh, Mr Triet met with officials and soldiers of Army Corps No1 and presented gifts to heroic mother Tran Thi Lo of Gia Hung village and wounded solider Le Thai Hanh of Me town.