The conference was co-chaired by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong.  

Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Deputy Director General Le Hung Son and other leaders of the agency attended the conference.

At the conference, on behalf of the Politburo, Le Minh Khai, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, reported on the main contents of the Resolution and the draft action plan of the Government Party delegation.

Role and importance of the development of the Southeast region

Implementing Resolution No 53-NQ/TW of the 9th Politburo and Conclusion No 27-KL/TW of the 11th Politburo on socio-economic development and maintenance of national defence and security in the southeastern region and the southern key economic region, over the years, all levels, branches, especially localities in the region have become more and more aware of the position, role and importance of the region and made many important achievements.

The Southeast is a dynamic and creative economic region, leading in innovation and development, making great contributions to economic growth, exports, State budget revenue and job creation for the whole country.

In 2020, the southeastern region’s gross regional product (GRDP) at current prices was 4.9 times higher than in 2005 and 2.6 times higher than in 2010, exceeding the set target; contributing 32 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), and 44.7 per cent of the total state budget revenue. GRDP per capita in 2020 was the highest in the country.

The Party, State leaders chair the conference

The region’s economic structure changed in a positive direction, the proportion of the processing and manufacturing industry increased rapidly, and the proportion of the service sector increased; the service sector's growth reached the highest rate in the country.

The southeastern region has a strong and dynamic private economic sector with the largest number of enterprises in the country. It is the region that attracts the largest amount of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 41.1 per cent of the total FDI to Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City has become an economic, financial, trade, science-technology, and innovation centre of the region and the whole country.

The region’s urbanisation rate reached 67 per cent resulting in an increasing modern look; the rate of communes meeting new-style rural area standards reached 79.5 per cent, ranking second among regions of the country.

The cultural and social fields achieved some important results as many cultural heritage values ​​are preserved and promoted. The region also sees positive results in poverty reduction, social security, education and training.

The southeastern region has the highest rate of trained workers in the country. Its specialised medical field has gained regional and world-class achievements.

The region has paid attention to environmental protection and climate change response. It has also kept promoting administrative reform and improving the business investment environment, while strengthening national defence and security.

Political security, social order and safety are maintained; foreign affairs and international integration accelerated whilst the work of Party building and rectification and the building of the political system are also intensified.

However, the southeastern region still has many limitations, weaknesses and difficulties and faces major challenges. Specifically, its development is not commensurate with the potential and advantages. Some important targets have not been met as planned. Economic growth tends to slow down and is lower than the whole country; the contribution to the total state budget revenue decreased, the labour productivity growth rate is low, and planning and implementation of the plans are slow.

The regional and inter-regional infrastructure network, especially the transport infrastructure connecting the region and the inter-region, is still lacking, weak, and inconsistent, affecting the development of the region. Some key projects in the region are behind schedule. Additionally, HCM City suffers from serious traffic congestion and flooding.

Resolution 24-NQ/TW affirms that the southeastern region has a particularly important strategic role and position in terms of politics, economy, culture, society, national defence, security and foreign affairs of the whole country. It must be a dynamic developed region, a centre of economy, finance, trade, services, education and training, with high-quality human resources, science and technology, and innovation. It is expected to lead the country and Southeast Asia in terms of digital transformation. It plays an important role in developing linkages with other economic regions.

The development of the southeastern region must be consistent with national socio-economic development strategies and planning, the strategy of sustainable development, the green growth strategy and climate change adaptation.

The region is required to renovate its growth model in association with restructuring the regional economy towards modernity, taking the digital economy, sharing economy, green economy, and circular economy as the focus and driving force for development.

The development of high-tech industries and high-quality service industries are prioritised.

The region would focus on building industrial, urban, service and logistics belts associated with transport corridors.

VSS leaders attend the online conference

The Resolution sets a target for the region to innovate strongly and dynamically to create breakthrough changes in continuing to develop it into an economic, financial, commercial and educational and training centre; leading the whole country and Southeast Asia in terms of developing high-quality human resources, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; playing a leading role in the regional connectivity development of the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands, and south central coastal regions and the whole country.

By 2030, it will become a dynamic development region with high economic growth, the largest growth engine in the country; a science - technology and innovation hub, with high-tech industry, and a logistics centre; and an international financial centre with high competitiveness in the region.

By 2045, it will become a developed region, with strong economic potential, a modern economic structure, and a centre of science - technology and innovation, high-tech industry, logistics, and international finance in the top group of the region and the world; and have modern and synchronous infrastructure.

An overview of the conference

The Resolution proposes six overall solutions including rapid and sustainable development to create breakthroughs and spillovers in regional and inter-regional economic development, focusing on perfecting institutions and policies and increasing regional linkages; developing science and technology, innovation and improvement of urban infrastructure; developing culture and society, improving people's material and spiritual life; ensuring national defence and security, improving the efficiency of foreign affairs; and focusing on building the Party and political system.

The Politburo requested Party committees, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations and people nationwide, especially localities in the southeastern region, to study, propagate, disseminate transform, grasp and effectively implement the resolution.

The Politburo also asked for the leadership of the Party committees and organisations, the engagement of the whole political system, the consensus of the society, and the drastic active participation of people and the business community during the implementation of the Resolution./.