Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics: Binh Duong is an important link in the link chain- connecting circulation

After 25 years of construction and development, Binh Duong has made steady progress in many aspects, making important contributions to the overall development of the southern key economic region and the whole country. Binh Duong Newspaper had an exchange with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics about this issue.

- How do you evaluate the role and position of Binh Duong in regional connectivity?

- Binh Duong is located close to Ho Chi Minh city, next to Dong Nai and connected to Ba Ria - Vung Tau, forming up a "development compound" of the southern key economic region. With the position, in addition to directly contributing to the region's growth achievements, Binh Duong is also an important link in the linkage chain - connecting circulation, creating resonances and spreading development. The map showing the interweavement of the belt roads and radial connections of the region with "critical" sections through Binh Duong confirms the position.

The relationship between Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc in terms of overall regional development is a clear and convincing proof for the above statement. Binh Duong connects Binh Phuoc with Ho Chi Minh city, directly promotes Binh Phuoc's development, helps Binh Phuoc transition from a state of "development reserve" to "development orbit"...Possibly seeing, in any level and from any angle, Binh Duong's important role and vital position in the linkage and development of the southern key economic region is self-assured and natural. It should be added that the role and position of Binh Duong will continue increasing with the development of the region and itself.

- What’s your assessment about Binh Duong’s construction and development of transport infrastructure in the regional connectivity over the past 25 years?

 - When coming to Binh Duong, I often hear a saying that has both policy-oriented meaning and action slogan: "lo thong, tai thong (opening to traffic, money flowing in). I heard this saying more than 30 years ago in Guangzhou, China. It keeps haunting me because of the extraordinary achievements in economic development that this country, especially the coastal area, has achieved over the past few decades.

The slogan has been mentioned many times on forums in Vietnam. However, so far, it has only been found in Binh Duong and recently in Quang Ninh.

Binh Duong lacks many conditions - advantages for basic development, due to no railway, no seaport and no airport. However, in reality, Binh Duong is the province with the best connected transport system in the country. Upon this, Binh Duong has achieved a development miracle. That is no doubt.

This assessment is drawn from the development reality of Binh Duong. It needs to be "experienced" in Binh Duong so that each person can personally "enjoy" the feeling of success of a right strategic choice. Although seeming very simple, it is not easy to implement in reality. That statement contains a question: Why is Binh Duong able to do what most other localities, or the whole country - still struggling?

The answer, drawn from the reality of Binh Duong, is simple and clear: First of all, Binh Duong is properly aware, thoroughly grasps, and takes very seriously the simple principles of development. Simplicity is easy to be "ignored". But this is the most important development direction and definitely not easy to implement. The next step is to turn it into an actionable, transparent and unified strategy, with right priority. This is not easy to achieve in the context of limited leadership vision, policy orientation dominated by group interests - and especially when "superior" has not yet "issued orders".

The third is to know how to deploy in the context of lacking appropriate mechanisms and policies when innovative thoughts and actions are prone to risks and are encouraged rarely.

Binh Duong has done all the three things, on the basis of unifying action goals, taking the development of the province, with the desire to go beyond, as the axis throughout the local development.

It's simple, so many people won't believe it. But what is hard to do is, of course, it is hard to believe. That's why I said that come to Binh Duong to "experience" and "enjoy".

- In your opinion, what next steps should Binh Duong take to promote regional linkages and bring into play the local advantages?

- The regional linkage in this area is still quite weak, not upholding its synergy and development spreading, especially to some "remote" provinces. The key to regional connectivity is the development of a transport system connecting with belt roads and radial routes, namely the belt roads 3 and 4, the roads connecting Binh Phuoc - Binh Duong - Ho Chi Minh city - Long Thanh airport - Cai Mep-Thi Vai port  with Ho Chi Minh city...

These things have been shaped by Binh Duong quite early and actively implemented. For the belt roads 3 and 4, although being not yet officially approved and implemented by the Government, but their sections passing through Binh Duong have been started early by the province without waiting for central funding and have been half completed. The Prime Minister recently visited Binh Duong and he was impressed by this breakthrough, proactive and creative way. He encouraged Binh Duong and Becamex IDC to continue promoting to complete the province's work soon, creating a strong impetus for the efforts of the whole region.

Binh Duong is also strongly "supporting" Binh Phuoc so that the locality quickly joins the regional development trajectory. The presence of Becamex IDC in Binh Phuoc not only creates an important "push" for the locality, but also contributed to the strength of the region in connection with the Central Highlands region. Of course, Binh Duong's regional promotion is not only in the aspect of "linking". Binh Duong is creating a competitive pressure in the regional development. In this aspect, I think Binh Duong's contribution to the development of the region is not small.

- In your opinion, how should Binh Duong's transport infrastructure be planned to create regional connectivity and promote the construction of a smart city?

 - Binh Duong is planning to develop in the direction of building up a "high-tech" and "smart" city under the central management in the space of regional and global connectivity. This is the typical structure of the modern development method. This is also the key point. The conformity with the current trend of the selected development strategy is the key to ensuring that Binh Duong continues moving forward and taking fruits. Of course, it won't be easy to achieve this new plan with high creativity. That is not to mention the ever-present obstacle of the old mechanism, of different interest groups. But I think only this kind of challenge is worthy of Binh Duong.

- Thank you!

Reported by Phuong Le-Translated by Kim Tin