Mr Manh made the statement during his working session with Hanoi Municipal Party Committee on January 8-9.

Addressing the sixth conference of the 14^th Hanoi Party Committee, Mr Manh praised the Hanoi Party Committee and local Party organisations for their solutions and plans of action to implement Party resolutions and approve key working programmes in 2007. He noted that despite changes in key personnel in 2006, the city continued to make significant achievements in 2006, including a record export value of more than US$3.5 billion, foreign investment capital of over US$1.1 billion and a per capita income of US$1,600/year. The city maintained political security and social order, and organised the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting successfully.

He emphasised the need to renew operations of local Party organisations as an important factor in further success in the future. He also asked the Hanoi Party Committee to better solve pressing social issues such as job generation, housing, growing gap between rich and poor, as well as urban development and management.   

During a fact-finding tour of Hanoi’s outlying district of Dong Anh which is experiencing rapid urbanisation, the Party leader inquired into the working conditions at local production establishments and the living conditions of local people in the district.

Mr Manh praised the district Party Committee for its efforts to boost agricultural production and its active involvement in the city’s urban planning and industrial development programmes. He said that Dong Anh will get a new facelift in the next 10-15 years as most land acreage for agricultural production in the district will be earmarked for industrial production and urbanisation. To do this, Mr Manh asked the district Party committee, administration and people to join efforts in solving such issues as economic restructuring, land planning and management, personnel training and job generation for local labourers and those coming from neighbouring localities to work in industrial zones.