"Only move forward, no retreat", prioritizing resources to complete key transportation projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the transport sector to continue promoting the spirit of working in "3 shifts", "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "only moving forward, not retreating"... and prioritizing resources to complete key transport projects - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the morning of December 28, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the conference to review the work in 2023 and deploy the plan for 2024 of the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

The conference was connected online from the main bridge in Hanoi to provinces and centrally-run cities. Also attending the conference were Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization Pham Tat Thang; leaders and representatives of ministries, branches, central and local agencies, the transport sector; leaders of associations and enterprises in the sector.

At the conference, leaders of ministries, branches, localities and units gave speeches, evaluated the results achieved, the limitations, obstacles and difficulties that need to be overcome; shared lessons learned; analyzed the situation and proposed solutions to implement tasks in the field of transport including: Direction and administration; institutional building, planning and management; transport activities; ensuring traffic order and safety; investment in construction and development of transport infrastructure; restructuring, arrangement and innovation of enterprises; science and technology, digital transformation, international cooperation, etc.

The transport sector sets out tasks and targets for 2024: Continue to focus on implementing the task of building and perfecting institutions; ensure smooth, healthy, safe and convenient transport activities, promptly serving people and businesses; strive for transport output to increase by about 7%, the number of passengers to increase by about 8% compared to 2023; the volume of goods transported increases by about 8.5%, the number of passengers increases by about 9% compared to the same period in 2023; the volume of goods passing through Vietnam's seaports in 2024 is expected to reach about 785 million tons, an increase of about 4% compared to 2023.

Along with that, the industry strives to disburse over 95% of the 2024 plan assigned by the Prime Minister; start and complete transport projects according to plan, including completing and putting into operation 2 component projects of Dien Chau-Bai Vot and Cam Lam-Vinh Hao sections of the North-South Eastern Expressway Project in the 2017-2020 period, bringing the total number of expressways put into operation to 2,021 km.

The Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to take innovation and application of science and technology as a driving force and resource, playing a leading role in surveying, designing, organizing construction, inspecting, supervising, warranty and maintenance of works, contributing to the rapid and sustainable development of key transport works and projects - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Excellent completion of assigned heavy tasks

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that in 2023, in a context of more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, the situation had many developments beyond all forecasts, but the transport sector had excellently completed important and heavy tasks assigned, contributing significantly to the overall achievements of the country, in which the implementation of 3 strategic breakthroughs (institutions, infrastructure, human resources) achieved many outstanding results.

The sector has a broad management task, large capital resources, many projects and fields, stretching from North to South, requiring comprehensive, effective management and operation, and focusing on preventing corruption and negativity. On behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged, commended and welcomed the achievements and results that the Ministry of Transport and localities have achieved in the transport sector in 2023.

Emphasizing some outstanding results, the Prime Minister assessed that in terms of leadership and direction in implementing assigned tasks, the Party Executive Committee and the leadership of the Ministry of Transport have united, promoted the highest sense of responsibility, actively innovated thinking and methods of organization and implementation, worked resolutely, closely followed the resolutions, directives and conclusions of the Central Committee, of key leaders and the actual situation to implement flexibly, creatively, promptly and effectively.

Second, the transport sector has actively and proactively reviewed, developed and completed institutions, submitted 13/13 decrees to the Government, achieving 100% of the plan according to the work program. At the same time, it has promoted decentralization and delegation of power to localities in the fields of state management of the Ministry. To date, 5/5 national sectoral plans in the transport sector according to the planning law have been completed by the Ministry of Transport and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

In particular, the implementation of investment in transport infrastructure, important national projects, and key projects of the transport sector in 2023 is a bright spot with many new projects approved, newly started, as well as the completion and putting into use of many highways, airport terminals,...

In just a short time, since the National Assembly approved the investment policy, the Ministry of Transport has focused on flexible and creative leadership and direction to complete a huge amount of work in investment preparation to start construction of the belt roads of the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the expressways connecting the Northwest, Central Highlands, Southwest and Mekong Delta regions, shortening the time by 1 year compared to the normal procedural process.

The Ministry of Transport has performed very well its role as the standing agency of the State Steering Committee for important national and key projects in the transport sector; actively and promptly advised the Government and the Prime Minister on many solutions to drastically remove difficulties and obstacles, especially hot and complicated issues related to many ministries, sectors and localities such as site clearance, material supply, decentralization and authorization which have been promptly resolved.

The Prime Minister gave an example of a practical problem when common raw material mines are licensed according to the same process as precious mineral mines. To resolve this issue, the Ministry of Transport and other agencies have advised the issuance of two Government resolutions on applying special mechanisms to ensure sources of construction materials; advised the Government to direct the monthly announcement of prices and price indexes of construction materials, strictly handle acts of speculation, price increases, and price pressure on construction materials...

Another example showing the drastic involvement of the Ministry of Transport is the My Thuan 2 bridge project which in early 2023 had not yet completed site clearance and was short of about VND 1,400 billion, but by the end of 2023 it was completed and put into use.

The Prime Minister said that in recent times, we have increased revenue and reduced expenditure to be ready to solve arising problems and continue to invest in infrastructure, including transport infrastructure, contributing to improving people's lives, especially in remote, border and island areas. "Because wherever the road goes, there will be space for development, people will be able to go there conveniently, industry, services, urban areas and rural areas will develop," the Prime Minister said.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang speaks at the conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister acknowledged and commended the collective leadership, cadres, civil servants, and public employees of the transport sector, and workers at the construction site... for their determination, efforts, and enthusiastic work, throughout holidays and Tet, regardless of holidays and days off, with the spirit of "3 shifts, 4 shifts", "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "not losing to the pandemic", "eating quickly, sleeping urgently", "only moving forward, not retreating"...

The leaders of the transport sector have gone deep, closely followed, and actively directed each area, each region, and each project to remove difficulties and speed up key transport projects; thereby creating motivation and inspiration for subordinates, localities, project management boards, contractors, and workers at the construction site.

The Ministry has also organized well with many innovations in the work at Vietnam Railway Corporation; focused on research, application of science and technology, listening to the opinions of experts...

"We will implement the most beneficial option. We will assign tasks to the level and agency that can do it most effectively, respecting objective laws and respecting reality," said the Prime Minister.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged and commended the efforts of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) in performing its tasks in 2023, coordinating with relevant agencies to promote the progress of airport projects, especially the Long Thanh airport project.

Along with that, the management of transport activities in the past year continued to have many positive changes; transport output in all sectors increased compared to the same period. The implementation of e-Government construction, digital transformation, administrative reform, administrative procedures, and reduction of business conditions has achieved positive results.

In addition to the achievements and results, the Prime Minister pointed out that there are still some shortcomings and limitations. The management of transport activities is still inadequate; the situation of illegal buses, illegal stations, and "disguised" contract buses is still complicated in many localities. Many expressway projects have been completed and put into operation, but the investment in rest stops, overpasses, intelligent transport systems (ITS), etc. is not synchronous, leading to inconvenience for users. Attracting social capital for investment in developing transport infrastructure is still limited, failing to meet expectations and practical needs.

Take innovation, science and technology as the driving force, resource and leader

In the coming time, the Prime Minister requested that it is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp, seriously and effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; absolutely not to be intoxicated with victory, not to be negligent and subjective in carrying out assigned tasks; to contribute to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the National Assembly on the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021-2025.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to further promote innovation and application of science and technology as a driving force and resource, playing a leading role in surveying, designing, organizing construction, inspecting, supervising, guaranteeing and maintaining works, ensuring progress and quality, reducing costs, fighting negativity and corruption, contributing to the rapid and sustainable development of key transport works and projects.

Along with that, grasp the practical situation, respond promptly and effectively with policies in the spirit that any problem at any level must be resolved, and any difficulty must be resolved. Continue to promote the building and improvement of institutions, have appropriate mechanisms and policies to maximize the potential differences, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages of each transport sector.

Maintain discipline and order; promote decentralization and delegation of power in conjunction with resource allocation and strengthen inspection, supervision and control of power; resolutely fight against corruption and negativity; promote administrative reform to eliminate hassles and harassment, reduce time and input costs for people and businesses.

Strengthen policy communication, contribute to creating social consensus; seek support and participation of the people; harmonize interests between the State, people, and businesses, ensure the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, pay special attention to people affected, having to give up their accommodation, workplace, and even places of worship for projects.

Delegates attend the conference to review the work in 2023 and deploy the plan for 2024 of the Ministry of Transport - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Assigning specific tasks to the transport sector with the view of prioritizing resources to implement key projects, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to control progress, improve quality, and prevent corruption in the construction of Long Thanh airport - a very large project that is symbolic of the whole country.

Along with that, the Prime Minister requested to soon submit for approval and start construction of a number of PPP projects, such as the Dong Dang-Tra Linh expressway in the Northern mountainous region, the Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh expressway in the Southeast region connecting with the Central Highlands, the Nam Dinh-Thai Binh expressway in the Red River Delta...

The Prime Minister noted that the Ministry of Transport must coordinate closely, synchronously and effectively with localities to speed up the implementation of transport projects in the area.

The Prime Minister requested that it is necessary to continue to focus on Party building and rectification; step up propaganda and education on ideology, political mettle, and lifestyle ethics for cadres, civil servants, and public employees; build a streamlined apparatus that operates effectively and efficiently; strengthen inspection, examination, supervision, and strictly handle violations in accordance with Party regulations and State laws.

The Prime Minister hopes that project management boards, consulting units, and contractors need to be more mature in all aspects; consulting units must comply with regulations; contractors must respect the law and not take advantage of policies; project management boards must not divide projects into smaller projects, bid openly and transparently, and appoint contractors in accordance with regulations, and not allow corruption or negativity to occur.

"Contractors must also put the interests of the nation and people above all; business must be profitable but must be done with intelligence, effort, openness, and transparency, not through negativity or policy exploitation," the Prime Minister noted.

The Prime Minister believes and hopes that with its glorious tradition, the Ministry of Transport will do better, make greater efforts, be more determined, and achieve better results in 2024 than in 2023.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-chi-tien-khong-lui-uu-tien-nguon-luc-de-hoan-thanh-cac-du-an-giao-thong-trong-diem-368514.html