Reporting at the meeting, Hoang Nghia Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council, stated that Nghe An has 82km of coastline and over 468km of border with 21 border communes, bordering three provinces of Laos. In the first six months of the year, the province’s GRDP was estimated at 9.65%, ranking 12th out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide.
Local military and national defence work, territorial sovereignty, and national border security have been implemented synchronously and seriously. Forces maintain strict readiness for combat, disaster prevention and control, and search and rescue; while coordinating to closely monitor the situation along the border, coastal areas, and key locations to prevent any passive or unexpected situations.
The provincial armed forces have mobilised nearly 9,000 officers, soldiers, and militia members to participate in protecting holidays, important political events, rescue operations, and forest fire prevention and control, thereby contributing to maintaining local security.
Nghe An Province aims to achieve a GRDP growth rate of 10.5 to 11.5% by the end of the year; thoroughly understand the Party’s military and national defence guidelines, focusing on Resolution No. 8 of the 13th Central Committee on the strategy for national defence in the new situation; and build a solid provincial defence zone and commune/ward defence zones.
Standing Deputy Secretary Hoang Nghia Hieu requested Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang’s support for Nghe An Province’s proposal to establish a national petroleum reserve to enhance storage capacity, ensure energy security, meet the requirements of economic and social development, and national defence and security; and at the same time, gradually form a transit, storage, and supply centre for petroleum in the North Central region and Laos.
Speaking at the meeting, General Phan Van Giang acknowledged, welcomed, and highly appreciated Nghe An’s efforts in economic and social development, improving the lives of the people, and especially in the tasks of national security and defence. At the same time, he noted that Nghe An Province must resolutely carry out the 500-day campaign to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers as the rainy season has arrived in neighbouring Laos.
Regarding the proposals from Nghe An Province, General Phan Van Giang requested clarification on several military issues concerning the handover of Ngu Island to the province for economic and social development, noting thatthe handover of Ngu Island to the province should be completed in the third quarter.
Regarding the establishment of a fuel reserve, General Phan Van Giang stated that the establishment of the reserve will help regulate fuel for the province and the region. The Ministry of National Defence has coordinated with other ministries to survey the pipeline route, and the prime minister will make a decision on this matter.
