Hai Duong connects the eastern highway economic axis with Quang Ninh, Hung Yen provinces and Hai Phong city.

Comrade Pham Xuan Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Hai Duong province, discussed with VCCI leaders at the forum on economic connectivity of the eastern expressway axis.

The forum was held in the context of the 3rd meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) taking place in Ha Long City from July 26-29. This is an opportunity for the 4 provinces and cities to introduce to the APEC and domestic business community their investment potential and opportunities, thereby promoting regional connectivity between localities located along the Hanoi - Hai Phong - Mong Cai highway.

Attending the forum were comrades of the Party Central Committee: Nguyen Xuan Ky, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Quang Ninh province; Pham Xuan Thang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Hai Duong province; Nguyen Huu Nghia, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Hung Yen province. Also attending were comrades: Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of VCCI; Phan Duc Hieu, Standing Member of the Economic Committee of the National Assembly; Do Manh Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee; Ngo Hoang Ngan, Standing Deputy Secretary, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Ninh province; comrades of the Deputy Secretaries of the Provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee, Chairmen of the People's Committees of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Hai Phong city and comrades of the People's Councils, People's Committees of the above provinces and cities. The forum attracted the attention of nearly 300 delegates who are APEC business leaders, representatives of domestic and international business associations.

The Chairmen of the People's Committees of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen provinces and Hai Phong city signed an agreement on economic cooperation to connect the eastern expressway axis.

Speaking at the opening and welcoming ceremony, comrades Nguyen Xuan Ky, Secretary of Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee; Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of VCCI affirmed that cooperation creates strength, so the connection of the eastern expressway axis aims to build a sub-regional economic linkage model, creating new development space to promote the advantages of 4 provinces and cities. The connection of 4 localities will create a region with a natural area 3 times larger than Hanoi, 5 times larger than Ho Chi Minh City, 8 times larger than Da Nang City. These provinces and cities have great advantages in connecting the best transport infrastructure in the country to exploit outstanding potentials.

VCCI Chairman Pham Tan Cong emphasized: “In history, the river has always been the axis of economic development and connecting economic and cultural centers. Today, the highway is the premise for development. The eastern highway axis is the premise for economic connection of 4 provinces and cities. The connection will create new space and vision for large-scale economic development, promoting and attracting businesses to invest in quality and large-scale projects”. As a bridge, VCCI commits to supporting and accompanying the 4 provinces and cities to create a successful regional linkage model with practical and specific activities, bringing the best efficiency for the process of sustainable economic development.

Comrade Trieu The Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province spoke at the discussion session.

At the discussion session on connecting the eastern expressway axis, Chairman of Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee Trieu The Hung affirmed that this event is an opportunity for the four localities to discuss and propose contents and areas of connection to promote economic development. Hai Duong has an increasingly complete transport infrastructure system and relatively synchronous connections with the two provinces of Quang Ninh, Hung Yen and Hai Phong City. The province has strengths in attracting investment, developing industrial and agricultural production, bringing many added values. Hai Duong is urgently implementing 6 new and expanded industrial parks with a total area of ​​over 1,200 hectares. The province is currently planning a dynamic industrial zone with a scale of about 10,000 hectares, promising to be an attractive destination for businesses. With a population of about 2 million people, of which nearly 1 million people of working age are trained in conjunction with labor needs. The province's human resources are guaranteed to meet the requirements of businesses. Connecting traffic axes will expand cooperation opportunities between provinces and cities through logistics centers.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trieu The Hung emphasized that Hai Duong wishes to connect the economic axis of the eastern expressway to be built on the principle of sincere cooperation, effective implementation and benefit sharing to open up opportunities for all parties. After the conference, Hai Duong will step up coordination with provinces, cities and VCCI to concretize the connection through specific programs and activities.

Conference delegates

Within the framework of the forum, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen provinces and Hai Phong city signed an agreement on cooperation to connect the eastern economic expressway. Based on the principle of sincere cooperation and practical implementation, the four provinces and cities agreed to build economic links on the basis of promoting the potential and advantages of each locality, increasing the growth rate, developing the economy and forming growth poles in the Red River Delta. Improving the efficiency of exploiting infrastructure in the region to connect with domestic, Chinese and international markets. Building a favorable and synchronous business environment on the basis of improving the quality of economic management... Localities implemented links in 8 areas, including trade and investment promotion; transportation, logistics services; production supply chain; tourism and service development; improving the business environment; training and supplying human resources; environmental protection, sustainable development; agriculture, agricultural processing and application of high-tech agriculture. In the period of 2022-2025, the 4 provinces and cities set targets for economic growth, investment attraction, and business development indicators higher than the national average, and to be among the top 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Improve and maintain their position in the leading group nationwide in terms of favorable business environment, striving to have at least 4 regional-level joint activities each year. Connect and develop a business community with a scale of more than 100,000 businesses by 2025.

To implement this cooperation program, the parties agreed to establish a Regional Connection Council as the leading and directing body. Council members include the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities and VCCI. The Council will have 2 co-chairmen, including 1 local Chairman who is elected on a rotational basis every year and the Chairman of VCCI. The Council Secretariat is the agency that assists the Council and permanently coordinates the linkage activities. At the same time, the Regional Business Council is established as the agency that connects enterprises and business associations in the region. VCCI is responsible for establishing and supporting the activities of this agency. The signed contents are implemented by specifying specific programs and action plans, with the consensus and agreement of the participating parties. During the implementation process, if new contents arise or issues are not yet agreed upon, the Secretariat will summarize, report, and seek opinions from the Council members.

Previously, giving comments on the content of the agreement on economic connection of the eastern expressway axis, comrade Pham Xuan Thang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Hai Duong province, assessed that in the past, the 4 provinces and cities had formed bilateral and multilateral connections but had not yet brought high efficiency. With similarities in traffic and geography, the economic connection of the eastern expressway axis is a driving force for localities to exploit their internal strengths and take advantage of the advantages of neighboring provinces and cities to promote development. Comrade Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Pham Xuan Thang said that in order to connect successfully and effectively, it is necessary to change the mindset and awareness of the connection. In particular, it is necessary to put businesses and people as the subjects of the connection and also the factors for sustainable connection. Citing the recent Covid-19 outbreaks as a profound lesson on connectivity, Provincial Party Secretary Pham Xuan Thang emphasized that the province is not perfectionist or hasty, but expects the economic connectivity of the eastern expressway axis to reach new heights on the basis of localities working together to resolve difficulties and obstacles for each other.

NGUYEN MO - DO QUYET