Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Developing infrastructure for the Mekong Delta to develop synchronously, comprehensively and inclusively

Concluding the conference on the implementation of key transport projects in the Southern region on the afternoon of April 21 in Can Tho city, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that if all modes of transport including road, air, sea, river and railway are smoothly resolved, the Mekong Delta will escape poverty and develop; therefore, we must be determined to do it, each generation doing a little to complete the set goals.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting to deploy key transport projects in the southern region. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Eliminate highway "lowlands"

The conference assessed that in recent times, the Party, State, Government, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers have paid special attention to investing in developing transport infrastructure in the southern provinces, especially in the Mekong Delta. Thanks to that, all types of transport have been and will be developed in the Mekong Delta: road, waterway, railway, and aviation.

In particular, with the drastic direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, and the synchronous participation of ministries, branches and localities, from the place considered the "lowland" of the highway, up to now, the connecting traffic infrastructure network in the Mekong Delta has changed.

According to the road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the Mekong Delta region has 1,256km of roads, including 3 vertical expressways and 3 horizontal expressways. To date, the Mekong Delta has completed 121km of vertical expressways including Ben Luc - Trung Luong - My Thuan with a length of 91km, My Thuan - Can Tho with a length of 23km and My Thuan 2 bridge with a length of 7km. In the period 2021 - 2025, 10 expressway projects/component projects with a length of 432km are being implemented. In the coming time, we will continue to research and invest in an additional 703km, including the Ca Mau - Dat Mui project of 90km.

After the Government and the Prime Minister gave many instructions, closely inspected, urged, and removed difficulties and obstacles, the projects have basically completed site clearance; difficulties and obstacles regarding construction materials have also been basically resolved. Thanks to that, the projects are being implemented relatively smoothly.

Of which, the 110km Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway is being accelerated and will be completed in 2025. The 191km Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway will be completed in July 2026. The Cao Lanh - An Huu expressway will be completed in 2027. The My An - Cao Lanh expressway will start construction in June 2025. The Cao Lanh - Lo Te and Lo Te - Rach Soi expressways will be completed in 2025. The Ho Chi Minh road project, Rach Soi - Ben Nhat, Go Quao - Vinh Thuan sections, is scheduled to be completed in 2025. The Rach Mieu 2 bridge project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Regarding aviation, the Mekong Delta region has 4 airports: Can Tho, Ca Mau, Rach Gia and Phu Quoc. Regarding railway, the Mekong Delta plans a railway line from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, 174 km long, with an investment schedule before 2030. Currently, research is being done to add to the planning the section connecting Can Tho city and Ca Mau city.

According to the maritime planning, the Mekong Delta region includes 12 seaports: Can Tho, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang. Along with that, the inland waterway system is being strongly implemented, with many projects to develop waterway and logistics corridors through the provinces of Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Long An, Dong Nai; investment project to upgrade the Muong Khai - Doc Phu Hien canal route through Dong Thap province; preparation for investment to upgrade the Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Ca Mau waterway transport route...

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that under the leadership of the Party, the participation of the entire political system, the direction and administration of the Government; the efforts of ministries, agencies, units and localities; the support of people and businesses, the help and assistance of international friends; especially the people in the project areas who have given up their land, residence, livelihood, burial places, ancestral graves... for the projects, the transport infrastructure projects in the Mekong Delta have been implemented to meet the set requirements.

“In a special context, with special efforts, special approaches, and many innovations, the implementation of projects has achieved special results, exceeding the set targets up to this point,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Make 3 big requests and ensure "3 yes, 2 no"

Stating three major requirements for projects: to be on schedule and ahead of schedule; to ensure and improve quality; to not exceed capital or price; to not allow corruption or negativity to occur; to ensure hygiene and restore the environment, the Prime Minister directed that next week, the Ministry of Construction must complete instructions on the implementation of measures to apply science and technology to shorten loading time and construction time.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting to deploy key transport projects in the southern region. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Regarding raw materials, up to now, the requirements have basically been met. The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to urgently provide guidance on the coordination of sand after unloading from one project to another as well as a plan to transfer mines that still have reserves but are no longer needed for exploitation to other projects.

The Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies arranged and provided sufficient capital for the projects. The Prime Minister emphasized that all three issues of technology, materials and capital have been resolved. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha continued to directly direct the final handling of related issues.

Pointing out some important lessons in mobilizing the entire political system to participate; the spirit of solidarity, unity, self-reliance, self-confidence; trust and mutual support; regular inspection, urging, encouragement, and rewards; resolving problems where they arise; resolving difficulties under the authority of which level, if beyond the authority, reporting to the competent authority for decision..., the Prime Minister once again commended the provinces of Dong Thap, Ben Tre, An Giang, Vinh Long, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong for urgently working with localities, investors, and project management boards to coordinate and provide sufficient materials for filling and filling roadbeds for projects that lack resources - one of the important issues for projects to be implemented as required.

With experience, confidence, courage, experience, and maturity after the past 4 years, the Prime Minister requested to do more, better, stronger, "faster, bolder" in the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 in developing transport infrastructure for the Mekong Delta as well as other strategic infrastructures, each year better than the previous year, each term higher than the previous term. We must look far, look wide, think deeply, do big things, put the interests of the nation and people above all, first and foremost.

The Prime Minister believes that if all modes of transportation by road, air, sea, river, and rail are smoothly resolved, the Mekong Delta will escape poverty. Therefore, we must be determined to do this, each generation doing a little to complete the set goals.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister directed that by the end of this term, the Mekong Delta will have 600km of expressway and strive to have at least 1,300km of expressway by 2030, nearly 100km higher than the previous plan.

Regarding aviation, Phu Quoc, Ca Mau and Rach Gia airports will be expanded. Localities will promote a proactive spirit and carry out site clearance.

Regarding sea routes, the Prime Minister assigned specific tasks in implementing major port projects including Cai Cui, Tran De, and Hon Khoai. Regarding waterway routes, the planning is available, the Ministry of Construction designs models of inland waterway ports, and provinces review, take the initiative, and decide on projects according to their authority. The spirit is that the Central Government only implements major projects connecting regions, countries, and the world.

Regarding railways, the Prime Minister directed preparations to start construction of the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway in 2027 and Can Tho - Ca Mau in 2028.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to synchronously develop transportation methods in the Mekong Delta with the spirit of "clear people, clear work, clear time, clear products, clear responsibilities, clear progress"; "working together, enjoying together, developing together, winning together, sharing joy, happiness and pride when achieving results".

During that process, we must ensure "3 yes, 2 no": There are benefits for the State, benefits for the people, benefits for businesses; no corruption, negativity, waste, and no loss or waste of people's assets, efforts, and money.

According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with focusing on developing transport infrastructure, the Party, State and Government are very interested in the comprehensive development of the Mekong Delta. Accordingly, the Government will continue to have meetings to implement projects to respond to subsidence, landslides, drought and salinity, human resource training projects, healthcare development, etc. in the Mekong Delta, exploiting all the different potentials, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages, bringing the Mekong Delta to develop synchronously, comprehensively, inclusively, leaving no one behind./.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-phat-trien-ha-tang-de-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-phat-trien-dong-bo-toan-dien-bao-trum-699862.html