Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. Photo: VOV

PM Chinh told the conference that the Politburo's promulgation of Resolution No. 53 and Conclusion No. 27 aims to maximize resources and effectively unlock potentials and advantages for the region to develop rapidly, stably and sustainably and to take the lead in national industrialization and modernization.

He said: “I ask the delegates to objectively, accurately and specifically evaluate the results, shortcomings and limitations in economy, culture, society, environment, science and technology, infrastructure, defense and security. From that assessment, we will point out the current bottlenecks of the region and the causes and lessons learned, identify new development context, opportunities and challenges for the development of the region. It’s necessary to recommend practical and effective viewpoints, goals, tasks and solutions to meet the requirements of regional development and in accordance with the actual situation.”

The Southern key economic region includes 6 provinces and cities of the Southeast region, namely Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh and two provinces in the Mekong Delta region of Long An and Tien Giang. The region is a trade hub, connecting domestically and internationally through a system of seaports and  airports, especially the trans-Asian land route and the sea route connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.