Hanoi (VNA) – Party General SecretaryNguyen Phu Trong on April 22 required greater efforts to be made to help theMekong Delta develop strongly in the near future.

The Party leader made the request at a hybrid national conference held by thePolitburo on the implementation of Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW on orientations topromote socio-economic development and ensure security and defence in theMekong Delta to 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

To well organize the implementation of the resolution, General Secretary Trong urgedthe whole political system to be fully and deeply aware of the purposes,significance, requirements and content of the resolution.

“We must define it as the responsibility of the entire political system, notjust the task of the region and regional localities,” he noted.

It is necessary to create high consensus among authorities at all levels andsectors on the role, position and importance of the region and regional linkage,he said, adding that regional connection must play the role of leading thedevelopment of the whole region and each locality.

Priority should be given to fine-tuning institutions and policies for theregional development and linkage, and effectively participate in cooperation activitieswith Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, especially in exploiting andusing Mekong River water resources.

The Party chief advised the Mekong Delta to take the advantage of the supportof the central government as well as the assistance of other localities in thecountry, especially Ho Chi Minh City and southeastern provinces, for more rapidand sustainable economic development.

He requested the Government and central agencies to increase coordination withregional localities to urgently devise, complete, issue and implement laws and policiesconducive to the region’s development.

It is necessary to well implement the regional planning for the 2021-2030period, with a vision towards 2045 in a green, sustainable and comprehensivedirection in line with the national master plan, he said.

The region should combine agricultural development and industry-servicesdevelopment; urban development and new-style rural area building; economicdevelopment and resources management and environmental protection.

It also needs to focus on natural disaster response and adaptation to climate change,rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion; and form regional value chains, headded.

The Mekong Delta should step up administrative reform, improve its business andinvestment environment, attract and effectively use resources for developmentinvestment; while allocating capital from the State budget and mobilising socialresources for building key works benefiting the regional and inter-regional development.

The Mekong Delta, part of the southern key economic region, is one of thelargest deltas in Southeast Asia and the world. It is the biggest food,foodstuff, aquatic products and fruit producer and exporter of the country,making up 50 percent of the nation’s rice output, 95 percent of rice exportvolume, 60 percent of aquatic output and 70 percent of fruit production./.