At a meeting with provincial officials and people, Party leader Manh expressed his delight at positive developments in Long An over the past five years.

The Party and State always pay attention to improving people’s living standards by ensuring their needs for food, clothing, accommodation, education, health care and traveling, stressed Mr Manh

The Party leader said it is essential to link socio-economic development to social progress and narrow the development level between regions and areas.

He asked local leaders to build a zoning plan for residential quarters and rural areas in line with the Mekong Delta region’s development trend.

During his visit to a number of industrial parks in Long An, Mr Manh was informed about the inflow of domestic and foreign investment which reached VND29,000 billion in 2006, equivalent to the level of five years ago. Currently, Long An has 16 industrial parks and 43 industrial clusters.

Regarding the issues of land management and use, Mr Manh asked the province to ensure land allocation for rice production to maintain national food security while effectively managing and using different kinds in order to implement both the short and long-term plans for national development.

At a meeting with key provincial leaders, Mr Manh praised the achievements the provincial Party organisation and local people have made in the past after more than two years of implementing the resolutions adopted at the 10^th National Party Congress. However, he pointed out weaknesses and shortcomings that should be overcome in the near future.

The Party leader also underscored the need to increase combative capacity of Party organisations by building a strong administrative system and promoting staff training.  Long An should focus on building a borderline of peace and friendship with Cambodia and improving people’s living standards in border areas to ensure national security and sovereignty.

On the occasion, Mr Manh came to visit and present gifts to heroic Vietnamese mothers.