On September 18, at the plenary session of the ASEAN Capital Mayors' Conference (MGMAC) and the ASEAN Mayors' Forum (AMF) held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on behalf of the capital city of Hanoi, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh gave a speech on "Some experiences in narrowing the gap and living conditions of people in urban and rural areas in the area".
At the Conference, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh affirmed that investment in agricultural, farmer and rural development has always received special attention from the Party and Government of Vietnam, in which narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas is identified as one of the strategic tasks to achieve the goal of comprehensive and sustainable development.
The capital Hanoi, after expanding its administrative boundaries in 2008, has a total natural area of over 3.3 thousand km2, including 30 administrative units (12 districts, 17 counties and 1 town). At that time, Hanoi had a fairly large agricultural area compared to other capitals in the world (about 200 thousand hectares, accounting for 59% of the total area); the rural population was over 4.2 million people, accounting for over 50% of the total population; the rural labor force was about 2.3 million people, accounting for over 56% of the city's labor force. The suburban rural area was identified as an area with difficult economic conditions, poor infrastructure, especially in the agricultural sector, with small-scale and fragmented production.
Implementing the Government's policy, in the past 10 years, Hanoi city has focused resources on investing in building "New Rural Areas"; prioritizing the development of infrastructure for agriculture and rural areas. Especially the transportation and irrigation systems; Industrial zones, clusters, specialized production areas, famous craft villages have been formed quite synchronously; many high-quality OCOP products have gradually conquered demanding markets such as Europe, America, etc.; economic and cultural life in rural areas are changing every day.
Five lessons learned
Achieving these important achievements, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh shared with delegates attending the Conference some lessons as follows:
Firstly, it is necessary to focus on developing synchronous infrastructure and regional connectivity. The city has decided to invest heavily in transport infrastructure, especially the road system and traffic routes connecting the inner city with the suburbs and rural areas. The land area for transport is currently over 10%, expected to reach about 12-15% by the end of 2025. Along with irrigation infrastructure, agricultural production infrastructure, information infrastructure, industrial parks and clusters have been and are promoting positive effects, contributing to promoting trade, logistics services and improving the market access of rural people.
Second, rural economic development is associated with green transformation and circular economy. Hanoi has built and deployed new economic models, promoted high-tech agriculture, developed OCOP products (one product per commune, so far there are nearly 2,000 OCOP products); Circular economic activities are encouraged to develop, thereby not only creating more jobs and income for farmers but also helping to protect the environment, maintain ecological balance, and contribute to sustainable development. The average income per capita in rural areas of Hanoi is currently about 3,000 USD.
Third, focus on investing in the health, education and cultural systems in rural areas. The goal is to provide rural people with equal and comprehensive access to education and training; thereby helping to improve the qualifications and vocational skills of farmers, creating the premise for increasing labor productivity and competitiveness of rural workers. The city always pays attention to vocational education policies, integrating them into the curriculum of subjects according to the STEM model, ensuring compliance with the general development trend, meeting the requirements of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Fourth, promote the role of digital technology in narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas. Hanoi has promoted the digital transformation process in management, operation and provision of public services in rural areas, helping people easily access information, administrative services, healthcare, education, etc. At the same time, it creates many opportunities for digital economic development, promoting creative startups in rural areas. Up to now, there is basically no difference or gap in access to the internet and digital technology applications between suburban and urban areas. The rate of households using at least 01 smartphone is 80%; 100% of villages and hamlets have mobile waves or broadband internet.
Fifth, focus on social security, ensure social welfare, and quality of life for people. The city pays special attention to the health care system and people's health care; promote the application of information technology in medical examination, treatment, and preventive medicine. Diseases in the community are closely monitored. Social protection and security activities are given attention; the number of people participating in health insurance reaches more than 7.8 million (equal to 95%); the rate of children in special circumstances receiving annual assistance reaches 99.9%. To date, the city no longer has poor households according to the national poverty standard.
Six key tasks and solutions
Also according to Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh, with the desire and aspiration to develop Hanoi Capital as "Cultured - Civilized - Modern", green, smart, a globally connected city with high competitiveness. In the coming time, Hanoi advocates building: "Ecological agriculture, Modern countryside, Civilized farmers", focusing on implementing a number of key tasks and solutions as follows:
Firstly, Enhance the role, position, and capacity of mastery; comprehensively improve the material and spiritual life of farmers and rural residents. Focus on innovation, improve the quality and effectiveness of training, information and communication work, contributing to raising awareness, capacity, and qualifications for farmers and rural residents. Ensure the mastery of farmers and rural residents according to the motto "People know, people discuss, people do, people check, people supervise, people benefit".
Second, Develop sustainable agriculture in an ecological direction, applying advanced science and technology. Restructure the agricultural sector substantially and effectively; exploit and promote the advantages of tropical agriculture; Closely link agriculture with industry and services; Production with preservation, processing and consumption of agricultural products. Encourage the development of green, organic and circular agriculture. Continue to allocate investment resources to the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, prioritizing works and projects serving agricultural restructuring and responding to climate change.
Third, develop ecological agriculture in the Red River and Day River delta areas, develop organic agriculture models with clean, high-quality products; Prioritize investment in the livestock industry in a circular direction, protect the environment, and ensure disease safety. Develop concentrated livestock farming areas, link livestock farming in a closed chain, etc.
Fourth, Building a new rural area with comprehensive and sustainable development associated with urbanization, ensuring substance and efficiency for the benefit of the people. Planning residential areas, works and houses in accordance with cultural traditions, landscapes, environment, actual conditions of each locality and adapting to climate change.
Fifth, Manage and use resources economically and effectively in conjunction with biodiversity conservation, strongly shifting to a green growth model. Exploit water surfaces rationally and effectively, convert low-lying land areas into aquaculture combined with creating urban landscapes; protect natural aquatic resources in the Da River and Red River regions. Exploit ecological potentials and specific climates to develop tourism....
Finally, to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas in a sustainable way, Hanoi always encourages the proactive and active participation of rural communities in the process of building, developing and managing the locality with the motto "Rural people are the subject and center of the process of agricultural development, rural economy and new rural construction".
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/ha-noi-chia-se-kinh-nghiem-thu-hep-khoang-cach-thanh-thi-nong-thon-voi-asean.html
Comment (0)