"Awakening" forest potential, spreading advanced models in border areas

Attending the meeting were Colonel Tran Van Hung - Commander of the Provincial Military Command; Colonel Le Nhu Cuong - Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command; representatives of a number of provincial departments, branches and sectors; comrades in the Standing Committee of Que Phong District Party Committee and relevant departments and sectors.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son chaired a working session in the border district of Que Phong. Photo: Hoai Thu

Proposals from the grassroots

At the meeting, the Standing Committee of Que Phong District Party Committee proposed that all levels and sectors consider supporting a number of contents such as: Requesting the Provincial People's Committee to withdraw the licenses of companies leasing forestry land that do not implement the project and hand it over to the people; reserve 10% of the tax collected from hydropower projects in the district; support the cost of resettlement in landslide and flash flood areas in Thong Thu commune. In addition, the district also hopes that the Provincial People's Committee will approve the transfer of appropriate waste treatment technology; support 80% of the cost of solid construction of canals and some other contents.

Regarding activities towards the 60th anniversary of the Border Guard's Traditional Day and the 30th anniversary of the National Defense Day, the District Party Committee has developed a plan, actively directed and coordinated with 3 border posts stationed in the area and the commune and village authorities to carry out practical and effective propaganda and commemorative activities.

In 2018, the economic growth rate of Que Phong district reached 11.7%; average income per capita/year reached 27.2 million VND; the poverty rate decreased by 6.96% compared to 2017, to 32.49%.

In 2018, the district had 7 villages and hamlets reaching the new rural standard; more than 51% of villages and hamlets achieved cultural standards. However, Que Phong also has some limitations that need to be overcome, such as the area of ​​newly planted forests is lower than planned; some investment projects in the district are slow to implement; tax debt collection progress is slow; there is no centralized point for waste collection and treatment; all types of crimes, especially drug crimes, are complicated.

The basic tasks in 2019, Que Phong district determined: focusing on achieving economic growth from 10.5 - 11%; maintaining growth momentum in all 3 production areas, economic development associated with new rural construction; natural disaster prevention; maintaining national defense - security, social order and safety. Strengthening discipline, administrative discipline and information and propaganda work, creating consensus in society...

There needs to be a policy to "awaken" the potential of forests.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son and the delegation visited the economic development model of the people of Que Son commune, Que Phong district. Photo: Hoai Thu

Commenting at the meeting, the representative of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that Que Phong district needs to consider increasing forest cover in the area to improve forest quality to serve the economic development interests of the people; there needs to be a policy to "awaken" the potential of forests to create sustainable development, combining the planting of other industrial and specialty crops, especially rubber trees, followed by bamboo, mangosteen, and passion fruit in the direction of production and processing.

The representative of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also said that the department had assigned an inspection team to review the enterprises investing in forest planting in Que Phong, but only 2/11 enterprises implemented it, causing waste of thousands of hectares of land. The department has submitted a handling plan to the Provincial People's Committee, but currently there are no specific instructions.

Commenting on national defense and security work, Colonel Tran Van Hung - Commander of the Provincial Military Command said: Que Phong borders two disadvantaged districts of Laos, with many complicated issues affecting security and order such as illegal proselytizing, drug crimes, HIV infection... Therefore, all levels of sectors and districts need to pay more attention to developing typical economic models to strive to reduce the rate of poor households, build and strengthen grassroots party organizations, coordinate with military units stationed in the area to effectively coordinate the implementation of programs, directives and projects of the Government and the Provincial Party Committee.

Passion fruit trees have contributed to changing the lives of people in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district. Photo: Dao Tuan

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Huu Mao - Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment highly appreciated Que Phong's efforts in socio-economic development. To improve the effectiveness of this work, Mr. Mao suggested that the district continue to effectively manage and integrate investment projects and programs in the area with key focus, not spreading out according to the planning targets assigned by the Provincial People's Council.

Regarding the urgent evacuation of 34 households affected by landslides in Thong Thu commune, Mr. Nguyen Huu Mao requested the People's Committee of Que Phong district to advise the Provincial People's Committee to include this content in the plan to overcome the consequences of floods and storms and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval. Regarding the proposal to transfer waste treatment technology from landfill technology to incinerator technology, a project should also be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee. Regarding the slow implementation of forest plantation enterprises, the district is requested to set up an inspection team and prepare a project adjustment report to reclaim the unimplemented land.

Building strong border areas

Concluding the working session, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son acknowledged the efforts of the district's cadres and party members in leading and directing socio-economic development, national defense and security, and creating consensus among the people. At the same time, he hoped that Que Phong district would promote the development of typical brands from agricultural products in the area and spread good models in all fields in 2019 - the year to basically accelerate the implementation of targets of Party Congresses at all levels.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son also said that Que Phong needs to make greater efforts in implementing the congress's targets on per capita income (in 2018, it only reached more than 27 million VND/person/year compared to the target of 37-38 million VND/person/year); budget revenue target of 60-65 billion VND only reached more than 30 billion VND; new rural construction has not been achieved (no commune has met the target of 4 communes). Determine the mindset and policies on forest exploitation and protection; mobilize resources, review and remove obstacles in economic development and attract investment effectively. Ensure good military and defense work, build strong border areas.

He also noted that Que Phong district should coordinate well with localities and units to carry out quality activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Border Guard and the 30th anniversary of National Defense Day, and do a good job in border foreign affairs.

Also in the afternoon, comrade Nguyen Xuan Son and the delegation visited the economic development model of the people in Que Son commune.

Strengthening solidarity, building strong border areas

(Baonghean.vn) - This is one of the instructions of comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council at the working session with the People's Committee of Hanh Dich commune and Hanh Dich Border Guard Station (Que Phong), on the morning of February 19.