Addressing a conference on November 29 in Hanoi on implementing the 13th-tenure Politburo’s new Resolution on socio-economic development and defense-security in the Red River Delta region to 2030, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the region should take a leading role as a center and engine of national development.

Under the Resolution, by 2030 the Red River Delta is to develop rapidly and sustainably with a modern economic structure, focusing on developing modern industries, services, and high-end, organic, and circular agriculture.

The Resolution also plans for the region to become a human resources training center of Vietnam, lead the country in science and technology, innovation, the digital economy, and the digital society; and have modern socio-economic infrastructure and a smart urban network.

It sets a target of the region posting average gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 9 per cent annually from now to 2030.

The agro-forestry-fisheries sector will account for 3.5 per cent of the region’s GRDP, the industry-construction sector 47 per cent, and the service sector 41 per cent.

In the 2021-2030 period, workplace productivity will rise to 7 per cent while Total Factor Productivity (TFP) will contribute about 55 per cent of the region’s GRDP.

The digital economy will make up 35 per cent of GRDP.

The urbanization rate is to increase to at least 35 per cent. All communes will meet new rural area standards, with half being recognized as advanced new-style rural areas.

By 2045, the region is expected to achieve modern ecological development; become a leading center in education and training, science and technology, innovation, and healthcare in Vietnam; and become a major economic and financial hub comparable to others around the world.

Party General Secretary Trong noted that new Resolution No. 30-NQ/TW continues to view the Red River Delta as a strategic region holding special importance in politics, economy, culture, society, environment, defense, security, and diplomacy. It identified that rapid and sustainable development is the responsibility of regional localities and the entire political system.

He stressed that the Red River Delta should take the lead in terms of scientific and technological application, innovation, digital economy, and digital society, and promote its historical tradition to ensure harmonious development between politics, economy, culture, society, natural resource protection, environment, and climate change adaptation.

The Party leader said economic development must go hand-in-hand with ensuring social security, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, improving the living standards of local people, and ensuring social equity.

The Red River Delta region consists of eleven localities: Hanoi, Hai Phong city, and Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh provinces.

Its contribution to national GDP rose to 29.4 per cent in 2020, from 26.9 per cent in 2010, with per capita income standing at 1.3-times higher than the national average and State budget revenue accounting for 32.7 per cent of the total nationwide.