Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh reported that Nghe An recorded average gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 7.67 percent in 2016 and 2017 with GRDP pace estimated at 8.13 percent this year. Per capita GRDP is about US$1,500, up 12.5 percent from 2015.Despite difficulties, local industrial production has performed well, rising by 14.17 percent in 2016 and 2017 on average, while retail sales increased some 16.2 percent and exports rose 25.3 percent. The number of tourists to Nghe An also grew by an average of 15 percent over the two years.He noted the province has enhanced Party building at all levels. It has gained initial success in following late President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and lifestyle, helping to prevent the degradation of political thought, morality, and self-transformation among Party members.Asking Nghe An not to pursue “hot” growth, Party General Secretary Trong described the marine pollution caused by steelmaker Formosa, based in the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, last year as an “expensive lesson”. He told the province to make methodical steps.He and other central officials expressed hope that Nghe An would develop more strongly so as not to lag behind other provinces. The leader suggested it fully tap its strengths while reforming its mindset and capitalising on ties with central agencies and nearby provinces.The General Secretary expressed his belief that with its achievements, experience, potential, and determination, Nghe An will become the economic locomotive of the northern central region.Also on October 29, the Party leader attended a programme marking 49 years of the Truong Bon Victory at the Truong Bon national historical site in Do Luong district, Nghe An province.On October 31, 1968, 13 of the 14 youth volunteers of Company 317 were killed by US bombing in this area, a few hours before the US declared a halt to the bombing of the north of Vietnam. Since then, Truong Bon has been a symbol of the bravery of Vietnamese youth volunteers.From 1964 to 1968, the US dropped 18,936 bombs and tens of thousands of rockets onto Do Luong district, including Truong Bon area. However, tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers, youth volunteers and locals persisted in fighting the enemy and securing the route for trucks carrying support to the southern battlefield.