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PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his entourage in the working session with leaders of Điện Biên province, August 23 - Photo: VGP
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In general, Điện Biên, Lai Châu and Lào Cai are all poor mountainous provinces with many difficulties, such as complicated terrain, scarcity of productive lands, small economic scale, scattered production of commodities, slow economic restructuring, high rate of poverty (Điện Biên: over 30%-70%, Lai Châu: 65%), low intellectual standards, and poor-skilled labor force. Especially, in the recent fatal flood from August 8-10, Lào Cai suffered heavy damages, with 79 people died and missed, 53 injured, and a total material toll of VND 985 billion.
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PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng inspects the Ma Lù Thàng Border-gate Economic Zone and visits the Ma Lù Thàng Border-gate, August 24 - Photo: VGP
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However, according to the Government chief, all these localities have their own potentialities and advantages which, if brought into full play, can push up growth rate and economic restructuring, jumping out of poverty.
Working with leaders of Điện Biên, PM Dũng suggested the province should plan its agriculture, cultivation, husbandry, and protective forests; boost the planting of rubber; and promote mining industry, hydroelectricity, cement. Điện Biên is also able to become a key tourist center in the Northwest and a tourist attraction in the country’s tourist network, the PM stated.
In his working visit to Lai Châu, PM Dũng highlighted forestry as one of feasible directions for the province to get out of poverty. “It is essential to develop the rubber planting in the province, with scientific foundations, thorough surveys and clear plans”, said the Government chief.
Endowed with a thick network of sloping rivers and streams, Lai Châu possesses a great hydroelectric potentiality (approximately 2,500 MW, equivalent to an annual production value of U $400 million). Thus, the PM urged the provincial authorities to encourage and attract investors from all economic sectors to engage in building medium and small hydropower projects.
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PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng cuts the inauguration band of the copper plant in the Sin Quyền Complex in Lào Cai, August 25 - Photo: VGP
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After pointing out Lào Cai’s strengths, PM Dũng suggested that Lào Cai should early plan its border-gates, improve the quality of border-gate services, accelerate commerical and investment promotions, and seek for more consumption markets. At the same time, the province should enhance its economic cooperation with Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and other southwest provinces of China.
Particularly, with its world-famous beautiful sites such as Sa Pa, Bắc Hà, and Bát Xát, Lào Cai has many advantages to develop tourism as a keynote economic industry. Thus, besides enlarging tourist routes, sites and zones as well as tourist services, the province should push up its domestic and international cooperation in tourism.
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Lai Châu shares 273 km of the borderline with China and have many border-gates into the vast Southwest of China. It is linked with the development triangle of Hà Nội-Hải Phòng-Quảng Ninh through National Highways 4D, 70, and 32 and the Đà River. Lai Châu has many advantages to develop trade, export and tourism. It also holds a strategic position in terms of national defense and security. Lai Châu is endowed with many valuable minerals, including barite, fluorite, copper, lead, zinc, tiling stone, gold and some mineral streams.
Lào Cai has over 35 high-quality minerals of industrial value discovered in 150 sites. Lào Cai also has advantages to develop hydroelectricity (nearly 900 MW). Its pedologic and climatic conditions are favorable for the cultivation of high-value crops (vegetables, flowers, fruits, tea) and the raising of fresh-water salmons.
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By Xuân Hồng
