PM envisages Spratly Islands as marine socioeconomic hub

Chinh emphasized the vision during a meeting with Khanh Hoa leaders Sunday morning, a day after paying tribute to 64 Vietnamese soldiers who died defending reefs in the Spratly Archipelago against China on March 14, 1988, and lost Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in the islands.

He said the islands were a strong bulwark, protecting the country's sovereignty at sea, adding that it "needs to be done as soon as possible."

Chinh said that Khanh Hoa has uniquely favorable conditions including natural resources with forests, mountains, sea and islands as also its location on major traffic routes. The province has the potential to develop into a regional hub, connecting the north, south and Central Highland regions.

The PM noted that the province was yet to develop a breakthrough, identifying several limitations including: slow remediation of problems after inspection and examination; slow disbursement of public investment capital; quality of human resources not meeting actual requirements; limited competitiveness; and insufficient administrative reforms.

Khanh Hoa needs to envision and work towards becoming a global intellectual and innovation center with scientific and technological resources, capital and international standard governance, the PM said.

He also highlighted the need to focus on administrative reforms, improve the business and investment environment, boost competitiveness and achieve satisfaction of people and businesses in the province.

Nguyen Hai Ninh, secretary of the Khanh Hoa Party Committee, said that in the coming time, the province will focus on developing the Van Phong Economic Zone and an airport urban area in Cam Lam District.

The province will prioritize allocation of resources from local and central budgets to attracting foreign investment in infrastructure, he added.