Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has said Hau Giang should further develop its rural areas in addition to promoting its commerce and services.

Manh made the statement on Sunday during a visit to the Mekong Delta province. He said Hau Giang should narrow the gap in living standards between the rural and urban areas as soon as possible.

He also said farmers deserve more financial security and that Hau Giang as a whole needs to apply the same model of “no crime, no drugs and no prostitution” currently being implemented in the province’s Vi Thanh Commune of Vi Thuy District.

Manh praised Hau Giang leaders and residents for their efforts in overcoming many challenges in the past five years and for making significant achievements in the areas of construction and development of the Party.

The party leader said the living conditions of Hau Giang residents have increased significantly because the provincial administration has been doing its job well in making roads, installing electric networks and fixing pipes to supply clean water to households.

At Sunday’s meeting with Manh and his delegation, Hau Giang Province’s Party Committee Chairman Nguyen Phong Quang said, “Over the past five years, the province has had an average economic growth rate of 12.28 percent per year, with per capita earnings reaching more than VND10.7 million (US$606) a year.”

Quang added that Hau Giang has also attracted local and foreign investors who contributed more than $1.2 billion toward eight projects.

Reported by Quang Minh Nhat