As part of his working visit to Da Nang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday paid a visit to the Da Nang Port.

Prime Minister Phuc and the city’s leaders at the Da Nang Port company

He was accompanied by municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh, municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri, and municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho.

Prime Minister Phuc highly praised the port for having received 7.25 million tons of cargo in 2016, and securing its position as the largest container port in the central region. Also last year, the port welcomed over 72 cruise ships from many foreign countries worldwide, thereby helping to advertise the city’s image to international friends to further the development of local tourism sector.

Prime Minister Phuc (2nd right), along with Secretary Anh (1st right) presenting a momento to a representative from the company

The national government leader also agreed about the construction of the Lien Chieu Port, and the conversion of the Tien Sa Port into a special-use port for cruise ships in the future.

He also urged the local authorities to create even more favourable conditions for the Da Nang Port and the Viet Nam National Shipping Lines to effectively deploy the Lien Chieu Port project.

In particular, greater efforts should be made to build modern seaports with a focus on raising their cargo handling capacity in order to bolster the city’s economic progress, and that of the central region as a whole.

Prime Minister also hoped that the Da Nang Port Company’s staff members would achieve even more success in 2017, and the following years.

Prime Minister Phuc (right) presenting a momento to a representative from the centre

Also on the same day, Prime Minister Phuc visited the city-based Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre Region II in Son Tra District.

Prime Minister Phuc (centre, first row), and the city’s leaders and representatives from the centre

Prime Minister Phuc spoke highly of the great efforts made by the centre’s staff in rescuing about 1,000 people in danger at sea during 2016.  He underlined that, over recent years, maritime search and rescue activities which have been conducted in a timely fashion, have helped Vietnamese fishermen feel more secure whilst conducting their fishing trips in their country’s waters, as well as safeguarding the national sovereignty over its sea and islands.

Prime Minister Phuc and the city’s leaders visiting the ship SARS 412’s emergency area

The national government leader asked the Ministry of Transport and the national Government Office to join their efforts to make suggestions about providing new modern rescue ships for the centre in a bid to promote the rescue of domestic and foreign fishermen in distress in Viet Nam’s territorial waters.

He also expressed his belief that the centre’s staff would continue to ensure their health, uphold the spirit of unyieldingness and secure their firm political stance in order to fulfill their assigned tasks well.

Prime Minister Phuc (left) speaking to a crew member on board the ship

The Prime Minister along with some of the city’s leaders, also visited rescue ship SARS 412 to extend their regards to the ship’s crew members, and to encourage them to continue their efforts to conduct their maritime search and rescue activities effectively.