Hanoi (VNA)🏅 – The simultaneous groundbreaking and inauguration of 250 projects and works across the country on August 19 will serve as a catalyst, and generate momentum for double-digit growth in the years to come, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed.

The groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony was held online, connecting 80 locations across the 34 cities and provinces nationwide. Attending the event at the main venue – the Vietnam Exposition Centre in Hanoi’s Dong Anh commune – were Party General Secretary To Lam, PM Pham Minh Chinh, former PM Nguyen Tan Dung, former Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh, and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai. Speaking at this especially significant event, the Government leader emphasised that 80 years ago, under the brilliant and wise leadership of the Party and the beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people carried out the historic August Revolution – one of the "glorious feats" and greatest victories of the nation in the 20th century – to seize power. On September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, on behalf of the Provisional Government, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence to officially establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, ushering in a new era for the nation: an era of independence, freedom, and socialism. According to the PM, looking back on the 80-year journey, the Vietnamese people are even prouder of the nation’s historical traditions and heroic past. Reflecting on the past allows today's generation to deeply cherish and truly understand the value of independence, freedom, peace, and national unity. It is a reminder to honour and be grateful to previous generations for their heroic sacrifices. And it is by looking back that the nation gains strength to move forward, to become stronger, more confident, and prouder as it heads into the new era. He said that in the recent past, under the leadership of the Party, the Government, and the PM, decisive efforts have been made to make the three strategic breakthroughs to accomplish fast and sustainable growth, including the development of strategic infrastructure to unlock all resources for national development. A series of key national highways and expressways have taken shape, along with large-scale important projects and numerous internationally significant works. Investments and constructions have been made in industrial zones, urban areas, healthcare, education, and social infrastructure. The goal by the end of 2025 is to have at least 3,000 kilometres of expressways and 1,000 kilometres of coastal roads nationwide, basically complete Long Thanh International Airport and Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport, complete at least 100,000 social housing units, commence construction on the high-speed railway, gradually perfect the urban metro systems, build major seaports such as Can Gio and Hon Khoai, and implement strategic infrastructure projects connecting with Laos, Cambodia, and others in ASEAN. These are important stepping stones for the country’s strong infrastructure development in the new phase, he affirmed.

The PM underscored the strategic significance of the newly inaugurated and launched projects to transforming the national infrastructure, advancing the Party and State’s vision of developing harmonious and modern foundation that will unlock new development space, create breakthroughs in economic and regional connectivity, develop attractive business and investment climate, and drive the nation’s development. The projects, he stressed, demonstrate the Party’s determination and support from the whole political system, people, and enterprises in building the national infrastructure, as well as the confidence, self-reliance, and technological mastery of the Vietnamese people, while inspiring and promoting national pride and patriotism through tangible achievements that directly benefit the people. He expressed his hope that each project will serve as a mosaic to the painting of an independent, free, peaceful, unified, integrated, prosperous, and civilised Vietnam, calling for development of more iconic works recognised regionally and globally and more creative spaces for the people. PM Chinh urged competent sides to accelerate the project implementation, ensuring the works will not face delays and cost overruns to bring joy to the citizens and momentum for the nation’s development. Localities, investors, contractors and relevant organisations must focus on removing legal bottlenecks, mobilise resources, and resolve administrative procedures in a prompt manner, striving to complete the projects ahead of schedule. He laid stress on the significance of power delegation, clear accountability, solidarity, steely determination, and drastic actions to assuring the efficiency of the projects, urging efforts to complete procedures for the simultaneous inauguration and groundbreaking of key projects on December 19 in celebration of the 14th National Party Congress. Recalling the spirit of the historic August Revolution, the Government leader called for boldness in completing strategic projects, particularly high-speed railway, nuclear power plants, and science-tech centres to bring the nation to the pinnacle of glory alongside the world powers as President Ho Chi Minh desired. He voiced his confidence that with special atmosphere, special momentum, and special efforts, Vietnam will achieve significant outcomes laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the subsequent years. At the ceremony, 89 projects were unveiled while 161 others had construction commenced. Invested with 1.28 quadrillion VND (48.7 billion USD) in total, they are expected to contribute over 18% to the country’s GDP in 2025 and more than 20% in the following years. Among the projects, 129 are funded with 478 trillion VND by the State budget (accounting for 37%), and the remaining 121 financed with 802 trillion VND (63%) by other sources. There are five FDI projects worth some 54 trillion VND. They comprise 59 transport projects, 44 civil and urban projects, 57 industrial projects, 36 on technical infrastructure, 22 on social housing, six on agriculture and rural development, three on culture and sports, 12 on education, one on national defence, and 10 on health care. Right after the ceremony, the Party chief, the PM and delegates toured the newly completed Vietnam Exposition Centre, developed in just ten months. The complex’s heart is the Kim Quy Exhibition Hall, featuring a 24,000-tonne steel dome rising 56 metres high, inspired by the legendary GoldenTurtle of the ancient Co Loa Citadel./.