“Vietnam’s High-Speed Revolution: 2,268 km of Expressways and Counting”

The meeting was held online, connecting the Government Headquarters with 49 provinces and cities that are home to important national projects and key transport infrastructure projects.

Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha and Ho Duc Phoc, who are also Deputy Heads of the Steering Committee; ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and governmental agencies who are members of the Steering Committee; provincial/municipal People’s Committees’ Chairpersons; and representatives from project management boards, state economic groups, investors, consulting units, and construction contractors attended the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that for the past three terms and in the draft documents of the 14th Party Congress, the Party has identified three strategic breakthroughs, including a breakthrough in infrastructure development, especially transport infrastructure.

The Government, ministries, sectors, and localities have focused on effectively developing transport infrastructure, including roads, railways, aviation, and waterways, to connect people, regions, and the country, as well as to connect internationally, reduce travel time, lower production costs and logistics costs, create jobs, and open up new development spaces.

According to the Prime Minister, in the context of declining global growth, Vietnam’s economic growth has been boosted and has reached a high level. Going forward, along with continuing the revolution in organizational apparatus and implementing the “quartet of strategies,” other regular tasks must also be implemented synchronously to promote growth, including investment solutions, especially public investment, with transport being a sector with a high proportion.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, the country simultaneously commenced and inaugurated 80 large and key projects. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, the country will continue to commence and inaugurate 80 large projects. On the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the National Resistance Day and in celebration of the 14th Party Congress, the country will continue to commence and inaugurate other projects.

The Prime Minister requested that the members of the Steering Committee review the tasks, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles and expediting investment preparation procedures for the projects. He urged them to promote the completion of the target of having 3,000 km of expressways and 1,000 km of coastal roads this year, as well as the implementation of railway and road projects connecting Laos and China.

He especially emphasized the need to focus on promoting the construction of the standard-gauge railway from Lao Cai to Hanoi and Haiphong, with a determination to commence construction in 2025 to connect Vietnam’s railway system with that of China, Central Asia, and Europe. He also stressed the need to effectively implement the resolutions of the Central Committee, National Assembly, and Government on transport infrastructure development, with the spirit of “only discussing doing, not discussing retreating.”

Requiring the members of the Steering Committee to heighten their sense of discipline, attitude towards work, and working results, the Prime Minister pointed out that the members of the Steering Committee must “speak and act truthfully and effectively, avoiding formalism.” He asked them to focus on evaluating, reviewing, and removing obstacles to promote the implementation of the projects.

Especially, the localities must take stronger action, especially in site clearance, with the principle of “localities decide, localities do, and localities take responsibility.” The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should review issues related to construction materials, land use conversion, and forests. The Ministry of Finance should review disbursement issues. The Ministry of Construction should review and promote projects to ensure progress and quality.

According to the Steering Committee, there are currently 37 projects with 95 sub-projects under the Steering Committee, including 35 projects in the road sector and two projects in the aviation sector. Since its establishment, the Prime Minister, as Head of the Steering Committee, has chaired 16 meetings and directly inspected construction sites and worked with localities to direct the removal of difficulties and obstacles and urge the progress of the projects.

The ministries, sectors, and localities have made efforts to implement the assigned tasks, and many difficulties and obstacles have been removed. The construction progress of the projects has changed significantly, especially with 19 projects and sub-projects put into operation.

Notably, 16 expressways under the Steering Committee’s projects have been completed and put into operation, increasing the total length of expressways in the country from 1,163 km (before 2021) to 2,268 km. The connecting road and Terminal T3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport have also been put into use. The construction of 52 projects and sub-projects is being implemented, basically in line with the set progress.

At the 16th meeting of the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister assigned 33 tasks to ministries, sectors, and localities, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles and expediting investment preparation procedures for the projects. So far, the units have completed 26 tasks as required. In addition, agencies are actively implementing two steering and directing tasks and five tasks that have not met the required progress.

The Government Portal continues to update information about the meeting.