Mr Dung made the suggestion in a meeting with local authorities during a visit to the central province on February 8.

He praised the province for its efforts to secure a high economic growth rate of 9.1 percent in 2009 despite the impact of the global economic recession. Its GDP per capita income increased to VND13.7 million, all communes and wards met the national standards for lower-secondary education, the poverty rate fell 3 percent to 13.7 percent. 

However, he said Quang Tri should consider its potential advantages in hydro-electric power, cement production and forest product processing to achieve sustainable growth while paying due attention to vocational training to create quality human resources for future development.

He instructed the province to accelerate administrative reform, crack down on smuggling and trade fraud, reduce poverty, better solve social issues and protect the environment.

The PM also reminded Quang Tri to take care of the poor, social policy beneficiaries and ethnic people during the Lunar New Year festival (Tet), which begins on February 13 and will last for 9 days.

“Your immediate task is to maintain security, stop fire cracking and ensure traffic safety during the upcoming national long holiday,” said Mr Dung.

He extended Tet Greetings to all provincial leaders and people and wished them a successful year ahead.

The same day, Mr Dung offered incense at the Road No9 War Martyrs Cemetery where more than 10,000 Vietnamese soldiers rest in peace. The soldiers laid down their lives on the battlefield during the American War and were reburied at the cemetery.