Merging provinces and streamlining the apparatus are among the key issues that General Secretary To Lam spent time discussing during a meeting with veteran revolutionary cadres, meritorious people, and typical policy families on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), which took place on the morning of April 21 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The General Secretary emphasized that the reorganization of administrative units and the organization of two-level local governments is a policy that comes from a strategic vision for the country's long-term development. The overarching goal is to bring a prosperous and happy life to the people, and for the country to develop more strongly.

The expansion of development space creates comparative advantages and new space for new administrative units. The Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat have discussed and evaluated very carefully, considering many aspects, and the people basically agree and support.

General Secretary To Lam discusses the country's major policies in 2025 and the 2026-2030 term

PHOTO: SY DONG

After the reorganization, the southern region (from Binh Thuan onwards, including Lam Dong and Dak Nong) will merge from 22 provinces and cities into 9 provinces and cities. The General Secretary said that this will create a diverse development space in terms of nature, economy, and culture; maximize the morphology of the sea space, connect forests, mountains, and plains, support each other to develop together but also preserve cultural identity.

In addition, expanding administrative boundaries also helps some provinces meet the conditions to become centrally-governed cities, creating the foundation for forming major economic centers of the country.

According to the General Secretary, the merger is not simply 2 plus 2 equals 4 but aims to bring about even greater development. For example, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh become 2 provinces with a solid tripod to enter an era of prosperous and wealthy development.

General Secretary To Lam highlights the advantages of merging 22 provinces and cities in the southern region.

PHOTO: SY DONG

"The power will certainly multiply many times. The people of Binh Duong, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Hau Giang provinces will become people with sea, mountains and forests, Tay Ninh will have a large river mouth connecting to the sea. The highlands of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong will become people with sea. All of these things have been calculated very carefully," the General Secretary affirmed.

General Secretary To Lam noted 5 requirements when merging provinces

Regarding Ho Chi Minh City, General Secretary To Lam assessed that after 50 years of national reunification, Ho Chi Minh City has achieved remarkable achievements in socio-economic development, improving people's lives, and the urban appearance is increasingly modern and civilized.

To make the city shine with its golden name, the General Secretary suggested that the Party Committee, government and people of Ho Chi Minh City need to make more efforts, be more determined and stronger, need to be more united, more proactive and creative to develop higher than the average. Ho Chi Minh City has always been the growth engine of the whole country, of the region, and has always been the center of innovation and creativity of the whole country. No place has more advantages than Ho Chi Minh City to do these things.

"When expanding space, localities will supplement, support, and link together to move forward. Expanded Ho Chi Minh City will not only include Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau at present, but will also be more closely connected with Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, and An Giang to rebuild the regional development strategy, creating a new, more outstanding whole," the General Secretary analyzed.

General Secretary To Lam helped the Vietnamese Heroic Mother stand in front row for a souvenir photo.

PHOTO: SY DONG

Through the expansion of administrative boundaries, the new Ho Chi Minh City will be a locomotive in many aspects, a driving force for the strong development of the entire Southeast, Southwest, Central Highlands and South Central regions, while also being supplemented with resources from the southern provinces in terms of land, labor, agriculture, tourism, culture, etc.

Talking with local leaders, the General Secretary noted that the process of merging provinces needs to ensure 5 requirements.

First is to promote high-quality human resources, select and arrange local cadres; cadres must dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to sacrifice for the common good.

Second, it is necessary to synchronize planning space, develop and build a modern, integrated, interconnected infrastructure system, especially transport, telecommunications, urban and industrial infrastructure, not only within the new administrative unit but also in regional linkages.

General Secretary To Lam and leaders and former leaders of the Party and State took souvenir photos with veteran revolutionary cadres, meritorious people, and typical policy families.

PHOTO: SY DONG

Third is to unify the legal system and administrative procedures, build a common set of standards for new administrative units on the basis of harmony, inheritance, upgrading, and providing the best support for people and businesses.

Fourth is to manage land and public assets in a public, transparent and professional manner, paying special attention to areas with great development potential, avoiding loss, waste and group interests.

Fifth, we must listen, explain, dialogue, and accompany the people, businesses, and localities in the region, making them understand correctly, trust, be proud of, and actively participate in the process of restructuring administrative units.

Strive for high average income by 2030

Also at the meeting, General Secretary To Lam discussed with delegates a number of issues that people are very concerned about, especially national and people's livelihood. The current urgent key tasks are: maintaining a peaceful, stable, secure and orderly environment in the country and the region; developing the economy and society rapidly and sustainably; improving people's lives, leaving no one behind.

Discussing further about socio-economic issues, the General Secretary said that the resolution has identified two centennial tasks: the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding in 2030 and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in 2045. Accordingly, by 2030, our country will be a modern industrial country with people having a high average income. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, people will have a high income, at least 20,000 USD/person. With the current level of less than 5,000 USD/person, in the next 20 years we must strive to reach an additional 15,0000 USD.

“If we do not achieve double-digit growth for many years, we will not achieve this goal. We cannot slow down, time does not allow us to slow down any further,” the General Secretary emphasized.

Regarding the three important tasks in 2025, the General Secretary said that it is necessary to prepare well for party congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress, held in the first quarter of 2026. At the same time, focus on streamlining the apparatus to serve the people and create development. At the same time, the whole country focuses on and strives to develop the economy to achieve a growth rate of 8% or more, continuing to synchronously complete transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and digital infrastructure.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-neu-loi-the-khi-sap-nhap-22-tinh-thanh-phia-nam-185250421122958234.htm