Building a planning for the Red River Delta region, concretizing Resolution 30

On the afternoon of December 7, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the Red River Delta Coordination Council (Coordination Council) chaired the second conference of the council to provide comments on the development of regional planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Attending the conference were Vice Chairmen of the Council: Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; leaders of ministries and central agencies; leaders of 11 provinces and cities in the Red River Delta; and council members.

The Red River Delta includes 11 provinces and centrally-run cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh.

Resolution 30 of the Politburo has determined the vision to 2045, “the Red River Delta is a modern, civilized, ecological development region; a major economic and financial center of regional and world stature…”

At the conference, after listening to a presentation of some main contents related to planning, delegates highlighted the role and position of the Red River Delta; geographical location, natural conditions, natural resources, human resources; and the current development status of the region.

Accordingly, regional development planning must specify the vision, viewpoints, and goals identified in the Regional Development Resolution and national planning for the region; arrange space for the development of national sectors, resolve conflicts between sectors and fields in the region; have important connecting projects between provinces in the region, inter-regionally and inter-sectoral.

On that basis, planning for the development area is truly a particularly important strategic area in terms of politics, economy, culture, society, environment, national defense, security and foreign affairs; a place that preserves many unique cultural and historical values ​​of the nation; is the growth pole of the whole country; and at the same time is the northern gateway of our country and ASEAN in connecting economic and trade development with China - the largest market in the world and vice versa.

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the Red River Delta and the Southeast have unique characteristics, contributing over 50% of the country's GDP. Therefore, planning must be one step ahead; planning is needed to maximize the potential differences, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages, with breakthrough thinking, strategic vision, long-term stability; provincial planning must be connected with regional planning, regional planning must be connected with national master planning; creating new momentum for growth.

The Prime Minister said that the planning has not yet fully demonstrated the potential of the Red River Delta. For example, the capital Hanoi, with its thousand-year history, is the economic, political, and cultural center; the Red River Delta, associated with the rice civilization, has a long-standing cultural and historical tradition, but has not yet been fully highlighted.

Along with that, the Red River Delta is the gateway of ASEAN connecting with China, in which Mong Cai Border Gate in particular is the shortest connection with the most dynamically developing region of China. However, these issues have not been clearly stated in the planning.

The head of the Government pointed out that the planning must also revive rivers that are being depleted of resources and encroached upon by human impact. This is the most densely populated area in the country; in addition, the area has diverse and rich terrain for developing industry, agriculture, and tourism associated with spirituality. Therefore, the planning must maximize the potential differences, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages; specific programs, projects and accompanying mechanisms and policies.

“We must resolve the limitations, shortcomings, and contradictions of the region, which is a small area but has a large population, so we must urbanize; exploit and develop underground and aerial spaces, and enhance innovation,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

The Prime Minister affirmed the view that progress and social justice should not be sacrificed to pursue economic growth alone. Therefore, there must be solutions, projects, resources, mechanisms, and policies to deal with waste and pollution issues in the region; human resource training not only serves the development of the region but also guides and coordinates human resources for the whole country.

The Red River Delta region has great potential and opportunities but its mechanisms and policies are still limited. To mobilize resources for the region's development, the Prime Minister suggested that internal resources should be considered fundamental, strategic, long-term and decisive; external resources should be considered important and breakthrough; and special mechanisms and policies should be in place.

The Prime Minister proposed clarifying the new driving forces for the region's development, which are innovation, science and technology, focusing on digital transformation and energy transformation; developing the renewable energy industry including water, wind and sunlight; implementing agricultural economy, forming agricultural ecosystems; developing industry with focus and key points; saving land, effectively exploiting land funds; some localities such as Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh must consider reclaiming land from the sea.

The Prime Minister affirmed that transport development must be one step ahead. With smooth transport, other industries will develop. With new development space, investors will come and invest.

Regarding airport development, the Prime Minister said that investment needs to be considered because there are 3 airports in the region. Investing in a large international transit airport is necessary, but the problem is to research and find land funds, balance and harmony with other airports.

Along with regional development, the Prime Minister requested that planning must be linked to regions, the whole country, and internationally. In particular, it is necessary to build a front line of international economic cooperation and competition, together with ASEAN, China, a region closely related to Northeast Asia - the most dynamically developing region in the world.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to continue researching and widely soliciting opinions from experts, scientists and people; learn from international experience in applying science and creativity to planning the Red River Delta region; and promptly concretize Resolution 30-NQ/TW dated November 23, 2022 of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Red River Delta region to 2030, with a vision to 2045.