Hanoi aims to constantly improve the leadership of the Party Committee and the sense of responsibility of government officials and Party members, especially the heads of government agencies, to fulfill all the socio-economic growth tasks set for 2023. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, talks to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper about the plans and actions the city expects to carry out on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. Photo: The Hanoi Times

As head of the Hanoi Party Committee, could you share some of Hanoi's achievements in the first half of 2020-2025?

Hanoi has endured many international impacts in the past two and a half years, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the global economic recession, rising inflation, and policy interest rate hikes.

To deserve to be the nation's political center, the Party Committee, the authorities, and the people of Hanoi have continued to build a strong and transparent political institution. In the past 2.5 years, the Hanoi Party Committee has improved the quality of our subordinate units and members. The people's and Party members' awareness of cultural traditions, heroism, and national unity is essential for fulfilling our political tasks.

Aware of the effectiveness of the political base, we have strengthened the organization of the Hanoi Party Committee, urged members to follow the thought and ethics of the late President Ho Chi Minh, and asked them to implement Resolution 4 of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on improving the Party structure, preventing political and ethical degradation among members, promoting the responsibility of officials to set an example, facilitating a responsible political system for all levels, and developing a more prosperous, civilized, and modern capital.

Creative and drastic measures have been taken to promote the city's socio-economic growth. As a result, we have achieved some gratifying results amid the greatest difficulties. After the Government decided to reopen the Vietnamese economy in March 2022, the capital experienced solid growth. The 22 socio-economic growth targets were met, and we even exceeded five. In addition, Hanoi recorded the highest GRDP growth rate in 10 years, at 8.89%, above the Vietnamese average. Hanoi remained the top national tax and fee collector in 2022, with total revenue of VND303 trillion ($12.84 billion), demonstrating the city's economic sustainability.

You have spoken of "unity" among Party members and the people. Is it the source of power that helps Hanoi overcome challenges and accomplish tasks?

Yes, it is. We consider "unity" the key mission and the first solution that all subordinate Party units and authorities must adopt in carrying out their tasks.

A part of Hanoi in Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District. Photo: Le Viet/The Hanoi Times

When I took over as Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, the whole city struggled to achieve the twin goals of pandemic prevention and economic development. The health sector was overburdened, the number of patients was soaring, and living and social standards were precarious. But in the most difficult times, our people were willing to come together, accept new rules, and share their difficulties with others. This was the source of strength for the capital to stand firm in the face of the pandemic.

Strict social distancing rules

Municipal officials and I recently visited various districts in Hanoi to review the progress of the important 4th Ring Road - Hanoi Capital Region project. I am happy to see that all the residents are enthusiastic about and supporting the project. Although many have not received compensation for confiscating their land, they have agreed to hand over their properties, farmlands, and ancestral graves for the project. It is thanks to all the authorities fulfilling their duties, ensuring that the necessary areas are cleared as planned, and providing the best benefits, compensation, and resettlement for the local population. The city intends to resettle the residents of the cleared areas as soon as possible and create favorable conditions for them to resume their normal lives. These are the actions that earn people's trust.

The Hanoi Party Committee is the first in the country to issue a resolution on developing the cultural industry. Could you show us the results after one year of the resolution?

The resolution on developing the cultural industry shows that the city's Party Committee is firmly committed to implementing important guidelines issued by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Cultural Conference in 2021. The guidelines emphasize the need to fully explore the potential of Thang Long-Hanoi's cultural characteristics, place cultural development alongside economic growth, and make it a powerful source of the city's socio-economic progress.

The resolution, dated February 22, 2022, has proven practical for the city to achieve positive results. In 2021 and 2022, Hanoi built, renovated, and upgraded 150 community-level health facilities; maintained and restored 181 relics, including four national-level special relics, 114 national-level relics, and 63 community-level relics; and completed the development of 143 national-level public schools.

In December 2022, Hanoi exhibited and promoted the heritage of Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the ancient city of Provins in the Ile-de-France region of France for the first time. We have made some progress in restoring Kinh Thien Palace, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Heritage Site.

Municipal authorities are also working on the process of inaugurating the construction of Ngo Quyen Temple in the relic of Co Loa Citadel in Dong Anh District. The spiritual and cultural project will fulfill the wish of the local people, enhance the charm of the Co Loa Citadel Relic, and create jobs and employment opportunities for the local people.

Visitors arrive at the temples in Co Loa Citadel relic in Dong Anh District. Photo: The Hanoi Times

We have promoted the development of a healthy culture that takes root in every town, family, community, and individual. We strive to make Hanoi the city of modernity, civilization, and culture, where thousands of years of traditions are reflected in people's actions, characteristics, behaviors, and conversations with their families, friends, and visitors.

Hanoi also pays attention to developing a set of cultural norms in its political system and leads other provinces and cities in carrying out political tasks. The city will continue to improve work regulations, implement the standards set by the Central Committee of the Communist Party on the development of civil servants and the structural organization of agencies, and motivate Government officials and Party members to make more efforts to develop the capital. The municipal Party Committee and our subordinate units have constantly been reforming to improve their leadership ability, management methods, and work ethics under the motto of "Discipline, Responsibility, Action, Creativity, Development."

All officials, especially the head of the agency, had customized roles and prioritized individual and corporate satisfaction. Work efficiency and results have been used to measure their management, leadership, and performance.

The city is now focusing on constructing Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region. Could you tell us about the progress of the project?

Although the Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region project is one of the major national projects supervised by the government.

The project was clearly stated in the Politburo Resolution 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022, on the future development of the Hanoi Capital Region until 2045. The National Assembly then approved the project, expecting the ring road to be fully operational in 2027. This is a challenge for the Party Committee, the authorities, and the people of Hanoi. The capital is determined to realize the project as Ring Road 4 will be the solution for inter-regional connectivity and improve the socio-economic conditions of Hanoi, the Hanoi Capital Region, the Northern Key Economic Region, and the Red River Delta Region.

 In Hanoi and Bac Ninh and Hung Yen provinces, the three places through which the ring road will run, we have taken drastic measures and demonstrated our unity, togetherness, and determination. Thanks to the people's support, most of the project tasks were completed on schedule. Many counties have completed the relocation of graves and cemeteries before the Tet 2023 (Lunar New Year) holiday, and their authorities have determined to complete the land clearing before the deadline. We are making every effort to break ground for the ring road construction in June 2023.

In addition to the Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region project, what other projects will Hanoi launch in 2023?

The capital will strive to achieve the 22 socio-economic goals in 2023, as we did in 2022, including a GDP growth rate of 7%. We need to focus on several key tasks to improve the capital's short- and long-term performance.

Accordingly, we will submit to the Prime Minister the Hanoi Capital Development Plan for 2021-2030 towards 2050, the amendment of the Master Plan on the Construction of Hanoi towards 2050, and the amendment of the Capital Law.

The view of the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Thach That District. Photo: Vu Ha/The Hanoi Times

The city authorities will finalize the development plans for the two inner cities, one covering the northern side of the Red River in Dong Anh, Me Linh, and Soc Son districts, and the other covering Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Thach That District and Xuan Mai Town in Chuong My District in the west of the city. We expect these city-within-city towns to become the new economic hubs, reducing population concentration in Hanoi's urban area and stimulating growth in disadvantaged districts. In 2023, Hanoi plans to upgrade Dong Anh and Gia Lam from rural to urban districts.

In addition, Hanoi will build the elevated sections of the Nhon-Hanoi Station urban railway, rebuild old and downgraded residential buildings, and review and take strict measures for projects that are behind schedule.

Such goals place an enormous workload on local governments. What solutions will you use to accomplish these tasks?

Drastic, scientific and focused solutions are needed to accomplish our tasks. This year, the Hanoi Party Committee will further strengthen the political structure's apparatus, transparency, and ethics. We will make better achievements in line with the year's theme of "Disciplined, Responsible, Active and Creative". The Hanoi authorities will carry out key activities in 2023 to fulfill the resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the resolution and 10 major tasks of the 17th Congress of the Hanoi Party Committee, and organize the mid-term conference for Party units at all levels.

I hope that all urban and local authorities will strengthen the Party's leadership in all operations and improve the performance of the political system by respecting Resolution 28-NQ/TW of the 6th Plenum of the Central Committee under the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on November 17, 2022, which is expected to strengthen power control, grassroots democracy, and disciplinary enforcement. The city still has problems to solve, such as projects that have been abandoned for years, schools and parking lots that need to meet demand, and poor management.

Despite good financial and site preparation, the city's government agencies still need help fulfilling some of their functions, so some districts have been unable to build schools in recent years. To solve such problems, Hanoi will decentralize the workflow so that subordinate agencies can carry out their work. To this end, I hope that all officials of Party units and State agencies, especially agency heads, will quickly implement their ideas and plans. The satisfaction of individuals and enterprises, the efficiency of work, and the results are the measure of the management, leadership, and performance of officials.

To accomplish our tasks and goals, I urge all government agencies and officials to do their work with heart, passion, enthusiasm and high responsibility. You should abide by the directives of the central and municipal Party committees and strive to double the efficiency of your work. Love for work and Hanoi will give us the strength to overcome all challenges and difficulties and achieve these goals in 2023.

Thank you!