During his lunar New Year visit to the southern economic hub on February 9, Mr Triet urged the city to solve limitations, such as poor growth quality and insufficient number of hi-tech equipment for production leading to limited competitiveness.

He also warned that traffic jams would hinder economic growth and social development of the city as well as the entire nation if not solved soon.

He pointed out that the 2010 work is burdensome, citing that there are Party congresses at all levels across the country.

Vietnam holds the Presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2010, marking a turning point for the country to firmly advance forwards, Mr Triet said.

He emphasised the need to speed up education campaigns among people of all classes to express gratitude for the late President Ho Chi Minh and ancestors who had sacrificed for the national independence and freedom.

“Efforts should be made to increase public confidence in the Party, the regime and the cause of socialist construction,” the State leader said.

He concluded by asking the city to focus on promoting personnel work during the Party congresses at all levels and putting talented, kind and trusted persons in key positions from grassroots to central levels to lead the revolutionary cause to success.