Goods are increasingly being imported and exported through the Chan May deep-water port. Photo: Minh Van

The "Heritage Route" can be seen as a symbol of success in regional linkages in the North Central and Central Coastal regions, one of the six socio -economic regions in Vietnam today. Promoting regional linkages has always been a top priority in socio-economic development in Vietnam in recent years. This is an important content mentioned in the documents of the 13th National Party Congress, as well as in the medium-term economic development plan for the period 2021-2025 and the socio-economic development strategy for the period 2021-2030.

Discussing regional linkages, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, stated: "Each region has different functions and roles in development; we must find a way to combine those strengths into a national strength." Manifested in various forms, such as sectoral linkages, linkages between functional entities, and spatial linkages (including intra-regional and inter-regional linkages...), promoting regional linkages has always been one of the top priorities in socio-economic development in our country.

Along with six socio-economic regions, Vietnam also has four key economic regions. The 13th National Congress of the Party determined: To develop comprehensively and create close and effective linkages between regions, areas, economic sectors, and types of production and business. To accelerate the development of national, regional, and sectoral development plans and strategies that are consistent with the potential and advantages of each locality and the country's realities, in order to enhance the self-reliance, adaptability, and resilience of the economy. To strengthen inter-industry, intra-regional, and inter-regional linkages, promote participation in global production networks and value chains, and open up new development opportunities.

Hue City is one of 14 provinces and cities in the North Central and Central Coastal regions, and also one of five provinces and cities in the Central Key Economic Zone. Leveraging its unique potential and advantages, Hue City has actively and proactively coordinated with central ministries and agencies and other localities in the region to develop plans, programs, and projects aimed at regional development, such as: investing in infrastructure, especially connecting transportation infrastructure; linking and promoting investment and trade; linking and developing tourism ; and participating in building common regional mechanisms and policies.

The Resolution of the 16th Congress of the Hue City Party Committee identifies the task of promoting linkages and leveraging unique potentials and advantages to enhance the effectiveness of regional linkages, especially in cultural exchange and tourism development; high-tech agriculture ; biotechnology; medical science and treatment; and addressing issues such as climate change, environmental pollution, and sea level rise. Simultaneously, it emphasizes strengthening linkages and constructing coastal roads; completing expressways connecting localities within the region; and linking seaports and airports with Da Nang to create an international trade gateway, comprehensively developing logistics services to serve Central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and countries along the East-West economic corridor.

To strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of linkages, the 4th Conference of the Coordinating Council for the North Central and Central Coastal Regions will be held in Hue City in May 2024; announcing the decision to approve the Planning for the North Central and Central Coastal Regions for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The Planning for the North Central and Central Coastal Regions for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister on May 4, 2024. The goal is that by 2030, the North Central and Central Coastal Regions will be a rapidly developing, dynamic region, oriented towards sustainability, and strong in marine economy.

In implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW of the Central Committee on "Some issues concerning the continued reform and restructuring of the political system's organizational apparatus to be streamlined, effective, and efficient," along with the rest of the country, many provinces and cities in the North Central and Central Coastal regions have been merged. These mergers not only aim to streamline the organizational apparatus but also open up new opportunities to accelerate development, towards the goal of making Vietnam a developed, high-income country by 2045.

I believe this is also an opportunity to unify the overall management of strategic planning and development on a scale encompassing the entire economy, regions, and inter-regions, overcoming the situation where the economy is fragmented by administrative boundaries or where investments are scattered and overlapping, and promoting regional linkages, as defined by the Party at the 12th National Congress.

Dan Duy