Proposing a group of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region

(CPV) - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang requested localities in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region to introduce policies suitable to the actual situation; effectively implement programs and projects of the Coordination Council in the province; speed up site clearance, have plans to respond to climate change and thoroughly implement digital transformation...

On May 24, in Phu Tho, the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region Coordination Council held its third conference; at the same time, it announced the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2025.

Attending and directing the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Regional Coordination Council; ministries, branches, experts, scientists, and representatives of leaders of 14 provinces in the Region.

Overview of the Conference. Photo: MPI

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Coordination Council, acknowledged that despite many difficulties, localities in the Region have overcome difficulties and tried to exploit their advantages to move forward. Some localities have new and creative ways of doing things that need to be replicated.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, regional linkage has existed for a long time but has not been effective because this region is weak in resources, infrastructure and connectivity. To lift this region up, the Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities in the region to focus on effectively implementing the proposed programs, tasks and projects. In particular, central ministries and branches need to "pay off debts" for missing projects, synthesize reports and opinions of delegates to submit to the Government...

Localities in the Region need to develop policies that are appropriate to the actual situation; effectively implement programs and projects of the Coordination Council in the province; speed up site clearance, especially for transport infrastructure projects; have plans to respond to climate change and thoroughly implement digital transformation...

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the Conference. Photo: MPI

Speaking at the Conference, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that the Ministry of Planning and Investment has proactively coordinated with ministries, central agencies and localities in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region to review, work with ministries, branches and localities and propose 04 groups of specific mechanisms and policies for regional development, including: Group of policies on developing connecting transport infrastructure; Group of policies on border gate development; Group of policies on management and development of forest and water resources; Group of policies on social security.

Regarding the planning of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that the Planning has just been signed and issued by the Prime Minister under Decision 369/QD-TTg dated May 4, 2024. In order to effectively implement the Regional Planning approved by the Prime Minister, the Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing specific contents.

Firstly, it is necessary to disseminate this Regional Planning widely, publicly and transparently to people and businesses of all economic sectors at home and abroad in order to attract the participation of relevant parties in the most effective way.

Second, it is necessary to have the participation of the entire political system, strengthen coordination between ministries, branches and localities; and eliminate local thinking, first of all, in implementing regional projects and programs.

Third, it is necessary to innovate thinking, promote dynamism and creativity in the direction and administration of each ministry, sector and locality, gradually transform the growth model, restructure the regional economy towards a green economy and a circular economy; strongly develop the processing, manufacturing and energy industries; high-value agriculture, applying modern and organic technology; border gate economy, tourism, forest economy associated with forest protection and development.

Fourth, focus resources on implementing the four key, breakthrough tasks set out in the Plan, prioritizing the development of synchronous, modern, regional, inter-regional and international infrastructure.

Fifth, focus on building and improving the operational efficiency of border economic zones, industrial parks, cross-border free trade zones (currently being piloted), strengthening linkages to form urban chains associated with the development of industrial - urban - service belts, economic corridors and belts, and dynamic development areas.

Regarding the implementation of a number of important regional connectivity projects, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that recently, the Prime Minister has prioritized allocating investment resources for large-scale expressway projects in the Region, contributing to changing the face of the Region's infrastructure. Specifically, a number of projects have been completed and are being actively implemented. Accordingly, the Tuyen Quang - Phu Tho Expressway Investment Project connects with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway. The project has been basically completed and put into operation on December 24, 2023, increasing the capacity of about 40km of expressway with a scale of 4 lanes, thereby connecting with the Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang Expressway.

Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang Expressway Project Phase 1 has a length of 104 km, investment scale of 02 limited lanes, site clearance scale of 4 lanes with a total investment of phase 1 of more than 9,000 billion VND (of which the central budget supports more than 5,600 billion VND). The project started construction in May 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Currently, the two localities are reviewing and proposing a plan to expand to a complete 4-lane scale, and extend from Bac Quang to Ha Giang city.

Regarding the Dong Dang (Lang Son province) - Tra Linh (Cao Bang province) expressway construction investment project under the BOT form, the Minister informed that the project has a total route length of 121 km; phase 1 investment is about 93 km. The project started on January 1, 2024 and is expected to complete phase 1 in 2025. However, it is currently facing difficulties and obstacles such as land use targets in Lang Son province, by 2025 it is necessary to increase 188 hectares of traffic land; Procedures for converting forest use purposes take a lot of time; Difficulties in the investor's ability to mobilize capital, so the project is adjusting the investment policy to increase the state budget's participation capital by an additional VND 3,220 billion.

Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh - Moc Chau Expressway Project (Son La): includes 04 sections being implemented, namely: Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh route, 23km long. Currently, Hoa Binh province is planning to expand the scale to 6 lanes and implement it under the BOT form; Hoa Binh - Da Bac City Region connecting route (km0-km19): Hoa Binh province is reviewing the proposal to adjust the route direction and implement it according to the expressway scale; Hoa Binh - Moc Chau Expressway: (km19-53), the section in Hoa Binh province is 34km long, currently no investor has been selected and construction has not started; Hoa Binh - Moc Chau Expressway: the section in Son La province is 32.3km long, the National Assembly has approved the pilot application, assigning Son La province as the managing agency; Currently, the province has completed investment procedures and is expected to start construction after the National Assembly supplements the medium-term plan capital for the period 2021-2025. Thus, the entire project has not yet started construction and is behind schedule compared to the approval.

Regarding the Sa Pa Airport Construction Investment Project in Lao Cai Province under the BOT form, this is a level 4C project with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers/year; the total investment capital is 4,208 billion VND, of which the State budget capital is 2,103 billion VND. The project has completed the first phase of site clearance. Currently, no investor has been selected, Lao Cai province is adjusting the investment policy to increase the State budget capital participating in the project.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Minister Nguyen Chi Dung presented the Decision, planning documents and flowers to representatives of localities in the Region. Photo: MPI

In addition, ministries and branches are studying investment plans for a number of projects such as the route connecting Ha Giang with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway; Doan Hung - Cho Ben route; Phase 2 of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway; Bac Kan - Cao Bang expressway; Son La - Dien Bien - Tay Trang international border gate expressway; Researching investment in the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong electrified railway route...; At the same time, localities are reviewing and developing plans to increase the scale of expressways to 4 complete lanes, adding connecting routes and intersections to promote the effectiveness of expressways in the area.

Regarding tasks and coordination activities, the Minister said that ministries and localities will resolutely implement 12 tasks in the Government's Action Program and 6 tasks in the Regional Action Plan for 2023. Regarding regional planning: The Ministry of Planning and Investment will preside over and develop a plan to implement the Regional Planning; ministries and localities will carry out tasks related to regional planning.

Regarding specific mechanisms and policies, the Minister emphasized that ministries, branches and localities need to continue reviewing and contributing comments to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for synthesis and reporting to competent authorities.

Regarding important and regionally linked projects: localities urgently remove difficulties and obstacles, complete necessary procedures to soon start projects, focus resources to speed up the implementation of projects that have started. For projects that are being prepared for investment or researched for implementation, integrate them into the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026-2030; Research and propose specific mechanisms and policies for early implementation, report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

The conference of the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region Coordination Council focused on the following contents: Announcing the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050; Summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 11-NQ/TW of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region to 2030, with a vision to 2045; Consulting on specific mechanisms and policies for the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region and the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region Coordination Plan for 2024.

At the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung presented the Decision, planning documents and flowers to representatives of localities in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region./.

Communist Party of Vietnam Portal

Source: https://dangcongsan.org.vn/noidung/tintuc/Lists/Tinhoatdong/View_Detail.aspx?ItemID=2997