President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends a ceremony to open the 2021-2022 academic year at a boarding high school in Yen Bai province, September 7, 2021.

President Phuc attended a ceremony on Tuesday to open the 2021-2022 academic year at the ethnic minorities boarding high school in the northern mountainous province, which has recorded no new COVID-19 infections for half a month.

The State leader urged the local education sector, particularly boarding schools, to be active in building teaching plans in response to the developments of the epidemic, ensuring safety for teachers and students.

(Photo: VOV)

The same day, President Phuc had a meeting with the provincial Party Committee during which he requested the province tap in its potential to grow further, pay attention to local specialties like tea, longans, cinnamon, and industrial crops, strengthen farm produce processing, and protect the environment.

"Yen Bai province needs to enhance social security policies to become wealthy and prosperous, develop criteria for the Happiness Index, promote high quality education, ensure fundamental medical services for the people, especially ethnic minority people," said President Phuc.

"It’s important to focus on education to improve people’s intellectuality and ensure sustainable poverty reduction by creating stable jobs and livelihood."

President Phuc asked the province to focus on policies for ethnic minority affairs, human resource development, and promoting local traditions.