Mr Manh and his entourage were on a working visit to Can Tho on May 11-12, during which the party leader visited Cai Cui port and the construction site of O Mon Power Plant and met with the city’s party officials.

Mr Manh said that Can Tho needs to build on its potential and strengths to become a “first-class” urban centre before 2010 and an industrialized city before 2020, providing a stimulus for regional development. He stressed that Can Tho would be a centre for the Mekong Delta in several fields, including agriculture.

In order to achieve this target, the city must have sound planning and management, he said.

Mr Manh suggested local agriculture gear itself towards goods production closely linked with markets to raise the value of farming produce. He laid special emphasis on the application of scientific methods and biological technology to agrarian production.

The General Secretary asked scientists and researchers in the field of rice growing to assist farmers with cultivation. They must create new rice varieties that are high-yield, good-quality, and highly competitive in the world market.

The party chief told the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to pilot a project to connect scientists and technicians to farmers, benefiting both sides.

He required the city’s party members to strengthen solidarity and pool their experience to increase their leadership capacity on a par with demands from the city’s development in the new period.

Can Tho has seen many considerable changes since being put under the direct management of the central government five years ago. Its economic structure has been shifted positively, with its annual income per capita hitting more than US$1,400 in 2008.  The city’s infrastructure has also improved greatly with the construction of Cai Cui port, Can Tho airport, Can Tho bridge, and a system of roads./.