Mr Trong was briefed by provincial authorities that during the past 20 years, the local economy has grown fourfold, its GDP per capita has increased by more than 20 times and the poverty rate has fallen to 14.9 percent from 24.4 percent in 2000. Its budget collection has swelled to 39 times larger than two decades ago reaching over VND800 billion in 2009.

Its accelerated economic structure has proved efficient, with the proportion of agricultural production falling to 30 percent from 64 percent in 1991, and industrial production and services making up 70 percent of the total.

Provincial leaders said that over the past years Quang Tri has paid special attention to agricultural production and rural development, as this sector accounts for one third of its total GDP and generates jobs for 55.8 percent of the labour force.

In the coming years, they said the province will continue to speed up the process of industrialisation and modernisation, especially in rural areas, and incorporate economic development into poverty reduction to increase local people’s incomes and improve their quality of life.

The province has restructured its State businesses to maximise their operations and encouraged the private economic sector to develop, greatly contributing to budget collection and generating many jobs for local people. However, the collective economy has failed to support the household economy.

The authorities admitted that the socialist-oriented market economy has not developed synchronously, administrative reform has not kept up with the rapid development of the market and the economic legal system remains inconsistent.    

Mr Trong examined the economic development model in rural areas

They proposed that the Party clarify the State’s role in the socialist-oriented market economy, finalise mechanisms, policies and the legal system, harmonise markets for all economic sectors so that they develop in a healthy manner, enhance State management, extensively reform administration and uproot the ‘give’ and ‘take’ mechanism.

They exchanged views on pressing issues, which need to be solved at the local and macro-levels. They include the relationship between economic growth and social equality, the leadership role of the Party and Party members in economic development, educational development, and how to attract young educated professionals.

Mr Trong congratulated Quang Tri on its achievements, which he said testified to the Party’s correct Renewal policy, carried out over more than two decades. He shared his sympathy for the difficulties that the war-torn province has encountered in the past and asked it to make the most of its strength to develop its economy and escape poverty.  

Modernising agriculture and rural development is a key solution to help Quang Tri do just that, said Mr Trong.

He proposed that to develop the socialist-oriented market economy, Quang Tri should create a more favourable environment for all economic sectors to mobilise resources for development. He reminded the province to harmonise the interests of the State, businesses and employees to protect workers’ interests, and narrow the development gap between areas in the province.    

Mr Trong has made a tour of a number of provinces to gather information for draft documents to submit to the upcoming 11^th National Party Congress scheduled for early 2011.