Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a conference on ensuring security and order to serve socio-economic development in the Central Highlands on August 25 (photo: chinhphu.vn)

At a conference in Lam Dong province last weekend the Prime Minister stressed the importance of addressing land issues, eliminating temporary and dilapidated housing, managing free migration, creating livelihoods, and supporting job transitions for ethnic minorities. He said specific solutions are needed to improve the lives of local residents.

The Central Highlands region, comprising Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong province, holds a strategically important position in terms of economics, politics, security, national defense, and environmental sustainability. Its stability and sustainable development are crucial for national defense and development.

Solutions to Central Highlands development

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the need for a solid foundation to leverage the Central Highlands' potential and advantages. This involves consolidating cultural identity and improving people’s material and spiritual well-being. He asked ministries, sectors, and localities to consider maintaining security and order as a critical immediate and long-term task. He said improving people’s lives and leaving no one behind is essential to maintaining order and security.

"First, we need to effectively implement directives of the Party and State, considering economic development as the central task. All activities should be focused on economic development. Second, it’s important to develop specific mechanisms to mobilize social resources for developing infrastructure, including transportation, digital technology, climate change adaptation, healthcare, education, and cultural and sports facilities. Third, development should be a prerequisite for maintaining security and order and vice versa. Security measures support socio-economic development while protecting national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity serves socio-economic development,' said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of addressing housing issues, eliminating makeshift houses, managing spontaneous migration in an orderly fashion, and ensuring job creation.

He said sectors and localities need to improve people’s material and spiritual well-being and strengthen bonds between the political system at the grassroots level and the people.

Party, State pay special attention to the Central Highlands

The Party and State have always paid special attention to the Central Highlands. Multiple resolutions, conclusions, and projects have been issued to foster socio-economic development and ensure security and order in the Central Highlands. These include Resolution 23 of the Politburo on socio-economic development and national defense orientations for the Central Highlands until 2030, with a vision to 2045, and the Prime Minister’s Decision 104 on adopting a project to associate socio-economic development with security and national defense in the Central Highlands. A regional council was set up to help the Prime Minister research, direct, and settle major issues concerning regional connectivity and sustainable development in the Central Highlands.

In May 2024, the Prime Minister approved the Central Highlands Regional Planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan aims at rapid, sustainable economic development that integrates economic, cultural, and social progress with resource and environmental protection, national defense, security, and foreign relations.

By 2030, the Central Highlands aims to become a rapidly developing region with a green, circular economy and a highly efficient agricultural sector driven by technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The region will create agricultural products with international brands, and become a major tourist destination.

The region seeks to exceed the low-middle income level, with an average GRDP growth rate of 7 to 7.5% and a per capita GRDP of approximately 5,000 USD by 2030.

Under the vision to 2050, the Central Highlands will be a model of sustainable development with a green, circular economy. The region will host extensive production areas for industrial crops, fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers, and will become a leading center for renewable energy. It will also feature several high-quality tourist destinations that attract both domestic and international visitors, while maintaining rich ecological spaces and a strong cultural identity.

The Central Highlands will continue to play a crucial role in Vietnam’s economy, politics, security, national defense, and ecological balance. Leveraging its resources will drive significant socio-economic advancement, contributing to the overall stability and growth of the nation.