Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc speaks at the launching ceremony in Tuyên Quang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

In his remarks, PM Phúc highlighted Tuyên Quang’s advantages for forestry development, saying over the years, the province had performed well in forestation, forest protection and forestry-based economic development in tandem with new-style rural area building.

"Environmental protection is the responsibility of all people," he said, adding that tree-planting and preservation is a practical activity to ensure sustainable development.

The Government has worked with localities nationwide in this regard, aiming to maintain forest coverage at 42 per cent, and raise the export revenue of timber and forestry products to at least US$14 billion this year, and more than $20 billion in 2025.

He called on administrations at all levels, departments, agencies and ethnic groups in Tuyên Quang to respond to the tree-planting festival initiated by President Hồ Chí Minh in the spring of 1960.

PM Phúc assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to assist the province in implementing programmes and projects and suggested Tuyên Quang combine forestation and forest preservation with eco-tourism.

The same day, the PM attended a ceremony announcing Tuyên Quang City as a second-tier urban area, a subordinate administrative unit of Tuyên Quang Province.

Speaking at the event, PM Phúc said "Tuyên Quang City plays a significant role as a political and socio-economic centre of the province, and a hub of transport and infrastructure of the northeastern and northwestern regions".

He asked the city to spur socio-economic development while ensuring national defence and security and environmental protection.

The Government leader urged Tuyên Quang City to make greater efforts to win the status of a first-tier city by 2030.