Building Con Cuong into an economic and cultural center of the Southwest region

(Baonghean) - Comrade Vi Xuan Giap, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Con Cuong district, answered an interview with Nghe An Newspaper

Reporter:Could you please tell us about the outstanding achievements that the Party Committee and people of Con Cuong district achieved during the 2010 - 2015 term?

Comrade Vi Xuan Giap:Despite many difficulties, especially the Government temporarily halting the separation and establishment of Tra Lan Town, so the province has not prioritized investment in building an urban center for the economy, culture and society of the Southwest region of Nghe An province, but the average growth rate of the district in the period of 2011-2015 still reached more than 6%. The economic structure continued to shift in a positive direction, the proportion of agriculture and forestry decreased from 48.91% to 45.9%; services - trade increased from 31.04% to 38%. In the period of 2010-2014, the total budget revenue of the district reached 56 billion VND, exceeding the annual plan assigned by the province by more than 30%. The average income per capita at current prices reached more than 17 million VND/person/year.

Con Cuong district leaders inspect drought prevention work for orange trees in Yen Khe commune. Photo: Huu Nghia

Agriculture, forestry and rural areas continued to develop, contributing to social stability and gradually improving people's lives. Notably, the focus on intensive investment and application of scientific and technical advances in production and animal husbandry resulted in increased planting areas and productivity of all crops. Forest care, management and protection were focused on, with forest coverage reaching 78%. Industry and construction maintained stable production, businesses continued to develop, creating more jobs and increasing production value. Services and trade developed quite well, in particular, the district has initially exploited the local tourism potential with the number of tourists increasing by an average of 10.4% per year.

Another highlight is that the infrastructure has been gradually strengthened, many projects have been completed and put into effective exploitation and use such as: 150-bed Southwest Regional General Hospital; national grid power coverage in Binh Chuan commune... Culture and society have made many advances, especially the education and training sector has changed and achieved many important results in both general and spearhead areas. By 2015, the whole district had 34 schools meeting national standards, accounting for more than 72%. Labor, employment, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and social policies have received due attention. The poverty rate has decreased from nearly 49% in 2010 to more than 32%. National defense and security have been maintained, creating a stable environment to promote socio-economic development. Party building has achieved many important results. Every year, the number of grassroots party organizations classified as strong and effective is over 65%; 100% of villages, hamlets, and blocks have party cells.

Reporter:However, many opinions say that Con Cuong's development is not commensurate with its potential. How do you evaluate this opinion?

Comrade Vi Xuan Giap:Yes, it is clear that Con Cuong has not yet developed commensurate with its potential and expectations. We have seriously acknowledged this, clearly assessed it, and specifically pointed out each issue that is still limited and existing in the process of building documents to prepare for the District Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term.

That is, economic growth is low, there is no breakthrough, economic restructuring is slow, many important economic indicators do not meet the goals set by the Congress. Socialization of education is still limited, the quality of education and training still has regional and local differences; there is still a surplus and shortage of teachers. The rate of trained workers is still low, job creation for workers is still limited and lacks sustainability. The poverty rate is still high. Indicators such as: building communes that meet national standards on health and communes with cultural and sports facilities that meet national standards are low.

In addition, the state management of religious activities is not strict. The activities of the political system still have some shortcomings such as: The grasp of public opinion, ideological developments in the Party, among the people and forecasting the situation is sometimes not proactive, not oriented and timely answers to some information on public opinion. The leadership capacity and fighting strength of some grassroots party organizations and party members are still limited; the work of inspection, supervision and enforcement of party discipline in some party organizations has not met the task of building and rectifying the Party in the spirit of Resolution 4 of the Central Committee (term XI)...

Reporter:Through that, the District Party Committee has drawn many lessons to more effectively carry out tasks in the new term?

Comrade Vi Xuan Giap:The results achieved and not achieved have both subjective and objective causes, from which the Party Committee has seriously drawn the following lessons:

First of all, it is necessary to constantly take care of maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party committee. Promote the combined strength of the entire political system, firmly maintain and strictly implement the principles of Party organization and building, improve the effectiveness of State management of authorities at all levels to create consensus within the political system and the people. Stick closely to the grassroots, grasp the aspirations and aspirations of the people and promptly resolve the concerns and legitimate aspirations of the people. Innovate the content and methods of operation of mass organizations.

Second, take care of building the cadre team, especially the work of planning, training, fostering and arranging and using cadres from the district to the grassroots. Promote the sense of responsibility, pioneering and exemplary role of the cadre team, party members, especially the heads of the Party committees, authorities and political systems.

Third, in the process of leading and directing the implementation of political tasks, it is necessary to creatively apply the policies and resolutions of higher levels, closely follow the resolutions of the Party Congress and the practical situation of the district, select key tasks to concretize into specific programs and projects, clearly assign responsibilities to the responsible collectives and individuals. Focus on directing the construction of models and developing models for widespread replication. Strengthen inspection, supervision, interim review, final review, and experience drawing to promptly supplement solutions for implementation direction.

The Nua Village Cultural House, Yen Khe Commune, has just been invested in under the New Rural Development Program. Photo: Huu Nghia

Fourthly, actively exploit and promote internal resources, while making the most of external resources and guidance from superiors to accelerate socio-economic development and strive to successfully implement the Party Resolution.

Finally, it is necessary to correctly assess the potential, advantages, opportunities, and challenges in the socio-economic development process of the locality in each period to set out appropriate and feasible directions, goals, tasks, and solutions; avoid subjectivity, haste, conservatism, and stagnation in direction and administration.

Reporter:So what is the goal of the Con Cuong District Party Committee in the next 5 years, comrade?

Comrade Vi Xuan Giap: In the 2015 - 2020 term, Con Cuong district continued to receive attention and support from the Central Government and the province. The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2355/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2013 on socio-economic development of Western Nghe An to 2020; Notice No. 1443-TB/TU dated April 6, 2015 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on the policy of implementing the Project to build Con Cuong district into a town in the direction of an ecological urban area, along with the results achieved in the past term, which are favorable foundations for Con Cuong to enter a new stage of development.

Our general goals are: To enhance the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party Committee and the entire political system. To maintain solidarity, promote all resources, and be determined to build Con Cuong into a fairly comprehensive district, an economic and cultural center of the Southwest region of Nghe An province. To harmoniously resolve economic growth with social security, to improve the material and spiritual life of the people. To firmly ensure national defense and security; to protect and effectively promote cultural values ​​and the ecological environment.

Reporter:Thank you comrade!

Thanh Duy

(Perform)