The Hanoitimes - Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, July 11, called for the development of a national programme to apply science and technology to boost sustainable development in the northwest region.
Phuc was speaking at a meeting organised by the Northwest Steering Committee.
The North-west region includes 12 mostly mountainous provinces, such as Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and 21 districts located to the west of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.
The region is of strategic importance to the economy, national defence and foreign affairs. Despite the development of agriculture, forestry, hydro-electricity, mineral resources and tourism, it still remains one of the poorest regions in the country.
At the meeting, participants agreed that a national science-technology development programme could help the development of the region's human-resources and transport infrastructure.
The Deputy PM asked the Vietnam National University in Hanoi to draft a programme for the purpose in co-ordination with other institutes and agencies.
