Hanoi (VNA) – Party GeneralSecretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong asked the northern port city of HaiPhong to develop a strong sea-based economy during a meeting between thePolitburo and the municipal Party Committee in Hanoi on December 13.

The meeting focused on the implementation of ResolutionNo.32-NQ/TW, issued in August 2003 by the Politburo of the ninth tenure, ondeveloping Hai Phong in line with the national industrialisation andmodernisation period.

Politburo members shared the view that over thelast 15 years, the city’s Party organisation, administration, and people havemade efforts to develop sustainably with great strength.

Local economic growth has been relatively fast, ataround 1.68 times higher than the national average. In 2017, the size of theeconomy expanded 4.27 times the 2003 figure; while per capita GDP reached 3,964USD, 1.54 times more than the national average and rising 5.43 times from the 2003GDP.

Breakthroughs have been recorded in theindustrial sector as many industrial parks and major projects, such as those ofNomura or Vinfast, have appeared, consolidating Hai Phong’s role as one ofVietnam’s key industrial hubs. Nearly 488 trillion VND (21 billion USD) ofinvestment capital was poured into the city by big Vietnamese and foreignbusinesses between 2003 and 2017, rising 16.6 percent annually.

Hai Phong has established itself as a gateway tothe sea for the nation’s northern localities. The seaport system has beenmodernised, while transport infrastructure has also enjoyed a considerablefacelift.

Meanwhile, local agriculture and rural areashave been geared towards industrialisation and modernisation. Eighty-nine ofthe 139 communes, or 64 percent, have met the 19 new-style rural area standardsso far.

At the meeting, Politburo members pointed outthat the current economic development has yet to match Hai Phong’s fullpotential. The city has not fulfilled its role as a growth engine for the HaiPhong-Hanoi-Quang Ninh economic triangle. Its connectivity in socio-economicdevelopment with other regional localities is also still weak.

Party General Secretary and President Trongemphasised that Hai Phong is one of the cities holding critical importance interms of politics, economy, culture, society, security-defence, and externalrelations.

He shared other Politburo member’s view that theimplementation of Resolution No.32-NQ/TW over the last 15 years has created animportant driving force for local development.

He told municipal authorities to focus ondeveloping the sea-based economy, marine and logistics services, industry, high-techagriculture, culture, and science-technology, while also ensuringdefence-security is maintained.

The city should do more to bring into play itsrole as the centre of the northern lowland region, Trong noted.

The leader also asked Hai Phong to pay attentionto Party building, carry out the Party Central Committee’s resolution onstreamlining the political apparatus, and step up its fight against corruptionand wastefulness. –VNA