On February 10, the sixth day of Lunar New Year 2019, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong launched the New Year Tree Planting Festival in Viet Cuong commune, Tran Yen district, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai.

Addressing at the ceremony, the Party and State leader underlined that tree plantation has played an important role in preventing natural disasters, improving quality of the environment, and bettering local livelihoods amidst global warming, climate change and sea level rise. He called upon the entire Party, army and people to engage in growing trees and forests as well as taking actions against deforestation as part of efforts to protect the environment.  Following the launching ceremony, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong met, delivered Tet greetings and presented gifts to local ethnic people.-VNA