Establishing the Regional Coordinating Council for Mekong Delta's sustainable development to climate change

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc concluding the meeting (Photo: Quang Hieu)

Speaking at the meeting, local representatives affirmed their determination to implement alldefined targets at highest levels, including growth and disbursement of public investment.Among many opinions, the regional connectivity issue was especially concerned by paricipants.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, "local salt water,wind and sunshine must become resources". Therefore, it is necessary to develop sustainably in the way of "favorable nature", to be based on nature, to adapt to climate change. Development should be undertaken forand connected with the whole region, taking Ho Chi Minh City as the center for both the Mekong Delta and the South-Eastern region.In order to coordinate all activities for the region’s sustainable development adapting to climate change, the Prime Minister signed the Decision 825/QĐ-TTg establishing and promulgating the Operation Regulation of Mekong Delta Coordinating Council for the period 2020-2025. Accordingly, “the Council should clarify priority contents in regional linkage, firstly prioritize the implementation of associated infrastructure projects, climate change adaptation projects, and develop projects on renewable energy, freshwater regulating lakes, etc” said the Deputy Minister.  

Speaking at the meeting, MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha proposed that the Regional Council should organize a meeting to decide immediately two issues: regional planning and inter-regional investment projects. In regard to issues related to land administration, Minister Tran Hong Ha informed that MONRE completed the decree amending and supplementing decrees detailing the implementation of the Land Law following the Government members’ opinions in order to remove ongoing land related fundamental obstacles.

MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha speaking at the meeting (Photo: Quang Hieu)

In order to meet the requirements of land for investment, MONRE issued Documents (No. 1004/TTg-NN and 1005/TTg-NN dated 30 July 2020) to appropriately adjust the land fund for provinces and cities. At the same time, presentlyMONRE is reviewing land use demand to report to the National Assembly Standing Committee to ensure land funds for localities to implement investment projects, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development, national defense and security. According to MONRE Minister, MONRE is willing to create conditions for localities to expand industrial areas to receive more investment flows and also accompaning the Mekong Delta region through supporting projects to strengthen forecasting capacity and water sources database development forproper using and sharing.In addition, the Minister stressed on the importance of wind power, with the potential and advantages of the region, the Minister expressed his support to wind power investment projectsdevelopment with careful selection of  appropriate investors to ensure Sustainable Development.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that the Government ensures a stable macro environment, promotes socialist-oriented market economy while supplementing legal documents, mechanisms and policies, overcoming overlap; removing bottlenecks, improving the business investment environment, especially decentralizing decentralization for localities to be more proactive.

Introducing the Mekong Delta Coordinating Council (Photo Quang Hieu)

Regarding socio-economic development, the Prime Minister requested localities to try and deploy all proper solutions for positive growth; particularly GDP of the whole region is not lower than the whole country. Public investment capital disbursement should reach 100%, local leaders must take action to ensure construction ground and focus should be given for developing a number of new industries, digital economy, e-commerce, urban development and so forth.

In regard to agricultural production, researchers in the Mekong Delta should consider improving rice quality, quickly develop processing industry for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products in association with raw material areas, supporting industries and mechanical engineering in service of agriculture, establishing trade service centers in sub-regions and marine economic zones, border-gate economic zones, logistics zones. In addition, the application of information technology, building intelligent fields, digital transformation, applying artificial intelligence and improving business environment should be enhanced. 

On this occasion, the Mekong Delta Coordinating Council established by a PM Decision was officically launched and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung. The main Council's task is to coordinate the Mekong Delta region's sustainable development to adapt to climate change.