At the conference (Photo: VNA) ThaiNguyen (VNA) - Transport infrastructure is vital, whileagriculture, processing industry and tourism are foundations for social andeconomic development in northern midland and mountainous regions, Politburomember and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission NguyenVan Binh has said.
Binh, whois also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, made the statement at aconference discussing social, economic development and national defence andsecurity in the northern midland and mountainous region to 2030, with a visionthrough 2045, held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen on December 14.
Besidesthe mentioned breakthroughs and foundations, Binh emphasised protectingecological security and national defence as keys for development, towards theformation of a regional economic space.
He urgedthe region to take advantage of its internal resources with the centralGovernment’s investment as an important source in leading and opening localresources.
He alsostressed rational, efficient and sustainable exploitation of resources, toharmonise economic development with ensuring ecological security and nationaldefence and security, between exploiting natural resources and preservinglandscapes for tourism development, between improving the quality of labour,stabilising the population and free migration, between the development of bordertrade and the enhancement of national defence and security.
Accordingto the report of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, after 15years of implementing Resolution 37-NQ/TW on the direction for social andeconomic development and national security in the northern midland andmountainous areas by 2020 of the Politburo, the region have witnessed greatachievements.
Notably,the average growth rate of the whole region in the period of 2004-2018 reached10 percent, gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita in 2018 reached 44.86million VND (1,900 USD) per head, nearly 12.9 times higher than in 2004.
Theeconomic structure shifted positively towards modernity and has promoted theregion's internal resources, strongly attracting investment in the region.
Accordingto the report, the security and political situation are stable. People's liveshave been improved.
Theregion has achieved and exceeded nine out of 12 targets set in Resolution37-NQ/TW. One target is likely to be achieved by 2020. There are still twouncompleted targets.
However,Binh noted that the region remained the poorest region of the country.
“Theeconomic scale of the region is still small, while its potential and advantageshave not been fully exploited or improperly operated,” Binh said, addingunsustainable economic growth and low economic restructuring of most localitiesare problems facing the region.
“Theregional economic structure has not yet met the region’s characteristics,” hesaid.
Attendingthe seminar were representatives of leaders of ministries, central agencies,leaders of provinces and departments of 16 provinces in the northern midlandand mountainous region and many experts, scientists and managers.
Theyfocused on discussing and contributing ideas to the key points for sustainabledevelopment of the region to 2030, including institutional linkages,co-ordination of socio-economic development and ensuring regional defence andsecurity.
They alsodiscussed poverty reduction in the region, breakthroughs in the new context todevelop tourism, developing border-gate economy in association with tourism andhi-tech agriculture, mechanisms and policies to mobilise and allocate resourcesfor social and economic development and ensure national defence and security,agreements on border trade between Vietnam and neighbouring countries to developthe border-gate economy./.
VNA
