These major programmes aim to increase the leadership capacity and combative strength of Party organizations and Party members and the operational efficiency of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations at all levels and to sharpen competitiveness to ensure the development of the capital’s economy on a rapid and sustainable basis.

The focus will be on boosting agriculture and rural development to improve people’s living standards, developing technical infrastructure facilities in urban areas and increasing the quality of the environment.

In his closing speech, Pham Quang Nghi, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee emphasized that in the first half of the year, Hanoi succeeded in achieving its GDP growth of 9.3 percent, 1.67 times higher than the country’s average level.

However, the consumer price index (CPI) and the interest rates of bank loans remained high compared to the previous years while violations of construction regulations, traffic law and urban order management were not handled properly, he said.

The four programmes are part of the resolution adopted at the 15th congress of the Hanoi Party Committee in the hope of making breakthroughs in fulfilling major socio-economic tasks until 2020 with a vision for 2030.

Nghi called for more coordinated efforts form all sectors to successfully implement seven key tasks set for the remaining months.

Under these important programmes, he said, Hanoi has set the target for 80 percent of its key staff at communal level having university degrees. The value of agricultural production will hit VND210-220 million/ha/ year with per farmer income of VND25 million/year and the rate of farm employment will drop to below 20 percent by 2015. The city is striving to finalise its plans for building new rural areas with 161 communes achieving new standards (40 percent) next year and achieving an annual GDP growth rate of 12-13 percent in the 2011-2015 period.

Hanoi expects to increase the urban land fund for transport development by 0.3-0.5 percent so that the figure will hit 8.5-9 percent by 2015.