General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: Regional connectivity must become the dominant mindset leading the development of the North Central and Central Coast regions.

On the morning of November 16, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat held a combined in-person and online conference to disseminate and implement Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated November 3, 2022 of the Politburo on socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Panorama of the Conference at the Party Central Committee headquarters. Photo: Pham Cuong

Particularly important strategic area

Speaking at the conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that, in addition to objective reasons, mainly to fully and deeply grasp and effectively implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress on regional development, meeting the requirements for developing regions across the country in the new period, the Politburo's issuance of Resolution No. 26 also had reasons stemming from the unique characteristics of the region and the reality after 18 years of implementing Resolution No. 39 of the 9th Politburo and Conclusion No. 25 of the 11th Politburo.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Cuong

After outlining the characteristics of the region's geographical location, economy, culture, history, people, and potential, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: The North Central and Central Coast are truly strategic areas of special importance in terms of politics, economy, culture, society, national defense, security, and foreign affairs of the whole country; they are the facade of the nation, the bowels of the Fatherland, the gateway to the sea, and the pedestal for the Central Highlands provinces... at the same time, they are of great importance for the development of the marine economy and ensuring national defense, security, and maintaining the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Although the whole region's appearance has changed positively and is gradually becoming a dynamically developing region, an important locomotive of the country in international cooperation and integration... However, according to the General Secretary, currently, the North Central and Central Coast regions are still regions with many development indicators lower than the national average; the potential and advantages of the region, especially the advantages of the marine economy, have not been properly exploited and effectively promoted to become an important internal resource for development.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge point of the Party Central Committee headquarters. Photo: Pham Cuong

“The regional socio-economic situation is just a mechanical sum of localities, not yet bearing the overall mark of the entire region,” the General Secretary assessed. “Therefore, the growth poles have not yet demonstrated their role as growth drivers, as locomotives leading the regional economy; the western mountainous region is still a difficult area; cultural and social development has not yet met the requirements in the new situation.

Therefore, the Politburo has highly agreed on the need to issue a new Resolution to create a new, stronger, breakthrough change in promoting the role and position of special importance and exploiting more effectively the great development potential and advantages of the region; at the same time, continue to promote the great results and achievements that have been achieved, overcome the remaining limitations and weaknesses, overcome new difficulties and challenges in regional development to 2030 and the vision to 2045.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also analyzed new ideas, new spirit, and new content of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated November 3, 2022 of the Politburo on socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Provincial leaders at the main bridge point of Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

"THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION AND THE CENTRAL COAST. THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION AND THE CENTRAL COAST RISE UP WITH THE WHOLE COUNTRY, FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY"

On that basis, the General Secretary emphasized a number of issues to implement Resolution No. 26 to achieve the best results, turning the Resolution into a vivid reality. Accordingly, first of all, it is necessary to fully and more deeply perceive the role and especially important position of the region, as well as the purpose, meaning and importance of regional development; firmly grasp the viewpoints and guiding ideas set forth by the Politburo, the work to be done so that on that basis there is a high unity of will and action, determination of the entire region, of each locality in the region, as well as of the whole country, all levels and sectors from the Central to the local level.

"It must be clearly defined that this is the responsibility of the entire political system, not just the task of the region and localities within the region," General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge point of the Party Central Committee headquarters. Photo: Pham Cuong

At the same time, the General Secretary also noted the need to correctly perceive and properly resolve the relationship between regional development and national development. The whole country for the region and the region for the whole country, creating a high level of unity in perception at all levels and sectors about the role, position, importance of the region and regional linkages.

“Regional connectivity must become the dominant mindset guiding the development of the region and each locality in the region; do not divide or be local,” the General Secretary especially noted. At the same time, it is necessary to focus on prioritizing the completion of institutions and policies for regional development and regional connectivity in terms of organizational apparatus, resources and implementation mechanisms, effectively creating international integration activities.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge point of the Party Central Committee headquarters. Photo: Pham Cuong

From there, it is necessary to arouse and promote more strongly the revolutionary tradition, patriotism, proactiveness, creativity, self-reliance, and aspiration of cadres, party members, and people in localities in the region; determined to surpass themselves, overcome complacency, contentment with what has been done, and fall into mediocrity.

We must have a higher will and determination, absolutely not accepting poverty and being inferior to other provinces and regions; at the same time, taking advantage of the support of the Central Government, the cooperation and assistance of localities nationwide, especially the Central Highlands provinces, the Southeast region, the Red River Delta region to develop the regional economy faster, more sustainably, richer and more prosperous; promote regional economic growth to a level higher than the national average on the basis of gradually innovating the growth model associated with promoting the transformation of the regional economic structure to overcome difficulties and challenges and better promote the great potential and advantages of the region.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Noting that on the basis of innovation in thinking and awareness, it is necessary to promote the construction and improvement of regional development mechanisms and policies, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested that the Government and central agencies need to strengthen coordination with localities in the region to urgently build, improve, promulgate and implement laws, mechanisms and priority policies of specific characteristics; build and organize the implementation of regional development planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045 in a green, sustainable and comprehensive direction; in accordance with the national master plan, ensuring multi-sectoral integration, linking industrial development with agricultural and service development; between urban development with new rural construction; between economic development with resource management, forest protection and ecological environment, responding to natural disasters and adapting to climate change, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion; Promote administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment, attract and effectively use all resources for development investment; prioritize counterpart funds from the State budget combined with mobilizing social resources for investment in developing key programs with spillover effects, solving regional and inter-regional development issues;...

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

In particular, the General Secretary noted the human factor in the process of implementing the Resolution, because no matter how good the Resolution is, if the people are not innovative, not qualified, especially not morally qualified, and do not form a solid united bloc, it will be very difficult to implement.

Therefore, the General Secretary requested to further enhance the quality of Party building and rectification work and the political system to ensure it is truly clean and strong; constantly improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party committees and organizations at all levels; the effectiveness and efficiency of management at all levels of government; strengthen training and fostering of cadres; seriously implement the conclusions of the 4th Central Conference (13th tenure) on Party building and rectification and the political system, in conjunction with Directive No. 05 of the Politburo.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Along with that, it is necessary to persistently and resolutely fight against corruption and negativity; practice thrift and combat waste; strengthen the leadership of the Party, the effectiveness and efficiency of management at all levels of government; build a contingent of cadres and party members with truly strong political will, pioneering and exemplary in ethics and lifestyle, strictly implement policies on innovation, arrangement and organization of a streamlined apparatus, effective and efficient operations, truly honest and clean; educate, foster and improve revolutionary ethics for cadres, party members and the young generation; build a contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees with political will, high professionalism and creativity; continue to reform and reform administration, develop e-government towards digital government, digital economy and digital society, smart cities.

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

In particular, it is necessary to promote the responsibility of leaders, encourage, facilitate and protect cadres who dare to innovate, dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility for the common interest; arouse the spirit of dedication of cadres and civil servants; innovate mass mobilization work and social supervision and criticism activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, consolidate the great national unity bloc, and build solidarity and friendship between our people and friendly countries.

Immediately after this conference, the General Secretary requested that Party committees and Party organizations at all levels, branches, agencies and units in the entire political system and localities in the region urgently develop action plans, study programs, thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the Resolution in conjunction with continuing to promote the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the Party Congress with the viewpoint of coordinating from top to bottom, unanimously, horizontally and vertically; resolutely "not beating the drum and abandoning the stick", "not starting with an elephant and then ending with a mouse".

Delegates attending the conference at the main bridge point of the Party Central Committee headquarters. Photo: Pham Cuong

“I earnestly call on and believe that, after this conference, the Party committees, authorities and people in the North Central and Central Coast regions will continue to promote the glorious revolutionary tradition, heroic spirit, creative spirit, courage and noble qualities of the people of the Central region, together with the Central ministries, branches and authorities at all levels in the country, who have innovated and strived, will further promote innovation, strive even harder, and be determined to successfully implement the Resolution of the Politburo, creating a new, breakthrough change in socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions in the true spirit: The whole country for the North Central and Central Coast. The North Central and Central Coast will rise up with the whole country and for the whole country,” General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong advised.