Regional links needed to boost economic growth
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for close links among the north western, south western and Central Highlands to speed up socio-economic development.
Phuc, who is also Head of the Steering Committee for the North Western Region, stressed the need to build a feasible partnership programme while addressing a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on September 14.
The meeting was also attended by Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, General Tran Dai Quang (representing the Central Highlands) and Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh (representing the south western Region). It aimed to discuss regional connectivity between the areas with each other and the Mekong Delta.
According to Deputy PM Phuc, the steering committees in the three regions succeeded in their task of overseeing the implementation of resolutions, decisions and directives issued by the Party Central Committee, politburo and the Prime Minister on the socio-economic development, national defence-security, ethnic and religious issues, and the development of political systems.
Delegates agreed that regional connectivity is an urgent issue not only for these three regions, but also for other localities.
While some linkage exists, delegates argued it is not well developed due to the lack of a clear partnership framework regulating the enforcement of the socio-economic development plan.
Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Lam Dong province People’s Committee in the Central Highlands, said the current connectivity has brought practical results and been a driving force for provincial development.
Lam Dong is a shining example of close connection with other localities. The province has set up long-standing links with Ho Chi Minh City in agriculture, tourism and human resource training.
According to Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh, the content of the regional connection should cover all fields, ranging from economics, social affairs, enterprise, farming and environmental issues.
He said the central focus of partnerships should be how to tap the potential of localities, regions and the whole country, serving social, defence-security stabilisation and protecting the legitimate rights of all citizens.
He added that to make cooperation effective, there must be clear regulations on regional connection which are suitable for specific regions and the whole country.
For his part, Public Security Minister General Tran Dai Quang said specific details of the linkage programme must be considered in order to finalise a policy promoting regional connection.
He concluded the meeting by stressing that the links between the three regions will foster business production, agriculture, industry, trade and services.