National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has urged the authorities ofall levels in northern mountainous Tuyen Quang province to boostsocio-economic development and improve the living standards for localpeople, especially ethnic minority ones.

Meetingwith ethnic voters in Tan Trao commune, Son Duong district on March 29,Hung expressed his concern over the high rate of poor households, whichaccounted for nearly half of the total 1,100 families in the commune.

He asked the local authorities to make more efforts toimprove rural infrastructure to facilitate socio-economic development,trade and tourism, thus increasing locals’ income.

The NA leader praised efforts that Tan Trao – a former revolution basehas made in building new model of rural areas and said he hopes thelocals will uphold their traditions to preserve and promote culturalidentities and solidarity and build the homeland more prosperously.

Stressing the importance of the new rural area building - a key taskof the whole political system, he asked Tuyen Quang to mobilise allnecessary resources to continue the programme, making it a strongmovement across the province.

Sharing the voters’concern about difficulties in agricultural production, Hung urged thelocal authorities and businesses to increase support in cultivationtechnology and animal and plant breeds.

As one ofthe 11 communes shaping the Safety Zone during the resistance war, TanTrao is home to various ethnic minority groups such as Tay, Dao,Nung, Cao Lan, San Diu and San Chi.

Over the pasttwo years, the commune has fulfilled 10 out of 19 criteria on buildingnew rural area model. It sets a target of completing the remaining ninecriteria by 2015 with a total expense of 193 billion VND.

During his stay in Son Duong district, Hung planted trees at the TanTrao special historical Relic and visited the National Assembly relic.

He offered incense to President Ho Chi Minh in Na Nua and presented gifts to families who served in the past revolutions.-VNA