The conference aimed to work out Government action programme to push up socio-economic development in the region till 2010 and 2020.

Delegates from 12 provinces and cities in the Red River Delta region and central ministries and sectors reached a high consensus on the Politburo resolution, which demonstrates the Party and State’s keen interest in the key industrial region of the nation.

However, the low quality of the zoning work and irrational mechanisms of co-operation between the region and other areas have caused many problems that need to be addressed in the coming period.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government Office to finalise the Government action program to implement the Politburo resolution effectively.

The development of the Red River delta has not yet matched up to its available advantages due to ineffective economic restructuring and labour distribution for national industrialisation and modernisation and low competitive capacity.

Regarding infrastructure development in the Red River Delta, Mr Dzung said there remain certain shortcomings in the zoning work and development strategy, while infrastructure facilities and human resources are far from meeting expectations.

The Red River Delta is a key economic region. However, he said, no highway has been built so far. Airports and seaports are not modern, Mr Dzung added.

The Deputy PM also asked ministries, agencies and localities to examine the zoning work and considered this as the main orientation for strategic development of each locality as well as the whole region. It is essential to pay due attention to infrastructure development, particularly transport and irrigation systems, electricity, urban areas, industrial zones and craft villages.

Mr Dzung noted that localities in the Red River Delta should focus on resolving difficulties and promoting administrative reforms so as to create favourable conditions for foreign businesses to invest in the region’s economic zones.