No trade-off between equality and growth in planning: PM

The national comprehensive planning of Việt Nam in 2021-2030 must harmonise social equality, environmental protection and economic development of the country.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính made these comments at a meeting held on Wednesday with the participation of the leaders of all 63 provinces and cities, ministries and agencies, along with deputy prime ministers Phạm Bình Minh, Lê Minh Khái, Vũ Đức Đam and Lê Văn Thành.

Delegates discussed orientations for the national comprehensive planning in 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

PM Chính said the country has improved the legal framework in planning. The National Assembly has issued the Law on Planning and the Government has issued decrees and resolutions on planning. However, there are still limitations in the progress and quality of planning work.

Under the Law on Planning, the national comprehensive planning is on a national and strategic level, towards zoning and interconnecting regions of territory, including mainland, islands, archipelagoes, territorial waters and airspace; urban and rural systems; infrastructure; the use of natural resources and environmental protection; natural disaster preparedness, climate change resilience, assurance of national defence and security and international integration.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of a database affected the planning work but more importantly, the authorities were not paying due attention to this work.

They haven’t yet paid due attention to giving directions on planning work while investment was still narrow and there were limitations in formulation, appraisal and approval of the planning, he said.

The Prime Minister asked authorities to consider this as an important task in 2022 and put more effort and resources into planning to improve work on both the progress and quality of the planning.

“With good planning, we have good projects and only when we have good projects, we have good investors,” he said.

The head of the government added that the planning must be feasible and ensure that the potentials and the uniqueness, as well as advantages of each sector and locality, are highlighted and developed. The planning must also point out the limitations and challenges, as well as solutions to these problems, so that we can push the development on national and local levels as well as in each sector.

The planning must ensure to make the best use of both internal and external resources, he said.

PM Chính said the ministries, agencies and localities must enhance the inspection and supervision of authorised agencies in appraisal and approval of the planning.

He was also ordered to select good contractors both domestically and internationally, while being open to feedback and opinions of different stakeholders including scientists, the public and businesses.

He also suggested relevant authorities establish working groups specialising in planning and assign a leader to direct the planning work.

He also requested a national database be established and smooth cooperation among ministries, agencies and authorities to ensure quality for the planning work.

Regarding the national comprehensive planning, the PM said there will be no trade-off between social security and equality, environmental protection and economic development.

He said we must work out breakthrough policy and measures to ensure all people are beneficiaries.

He added that the national planning must be put in a broader context in which Việt Nam is part of the development chains of the region and the world.