Trade, services and tourism should be spearhead sectors of Ben Tre: President
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 1 asked the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre to ensure harmonious development, with trade, services and tourism as its spearhead economic sectors.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)
Ben Tre (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 1 asked the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre to ensure harmonious development, with trade, services and tourism as its spearhead economic sectors.
Speaking at a working session with the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee as part of his trip to Ben Tre, President Phuc lauded the province’s efforts in economic development, with its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) up 4.18 percent in the first half of this year.
Ben Tre has combined agricultural restructuring with new-style rural area building, he said, stressing that the province has focused on developing value chains for local agricultural products.
The leader pointed out challenges and limitations of the province, such as the severe impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, high poverty rate, poor production capacity, limited infrastructure, and a lack of quality personnel.
Ben Tre should focus on planning, pursue green growth, boost the processing industry and energy sectors, and push ahead with urban building, he said.
President Phuc asked the province to further restructure its agricultural sector, strive to adapt to climate change, consolidate value chains of agricultural products, and accelerate new-style rural areas.
As the kingdom of coconut, the President urged Ben Tre to preserve and develop high-quality coconut varieties, diversity products and promote coconut cooperatives.
Ben Tre should call for investment in wind, solar and gas power and biomass, pharmacy – biomedicine, and large-scale industrial production projects that do not harm the environment, he suggested.
To facilitate development, it is necessary to upgrade infrastructure, particularly in transport, he said, asking the Standing Board to pay attention to building a pure, strong Party organisation and political system.
Earlier the same day, the President pressed the button to inaugurate Thanh Hai Wind Power Plant 5, phase 1, with a capacity of 30 MW in Thanh Thoi B hamlet, Thanh Hai commune, Thanh Phu district.
With a combined capacity of 120 MW, the two-phase plant is expected to churn out 425 million KWh each year.
The State leader also visited a high-tech shrimp farm in the ha💙mlet./.
The Dong Khoi (General Uprising) movement in Ben Tre in 1960 was a milestone in the South’s resistance war against the United States. The movement led directly to national reunification under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.
The World Records Union (WorldKings) and the Vietnam Records Organisation (Vietkings) on June 27 recognised the 222 coconut-based dishes cooked at an event held in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.
The World Records Union and the Vietnam Record Association have awarded Vietnam’s and world's records to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre for a cooking performance of 222 dishes made of coconut.
Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA) 
