Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng (second, right) at a meeting between the Politburo and Hà Nội’s Party Committee’s Standing Board on Saturday. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng has urged Hà Nội to improve efforts in Party building, personnel development and rule building, in order to confirm its position as the national centre of politics and culture.

Hà Nội must set an example in all fields, the top leader said during a meeting between the Politburo and the city’s Party Committee’s Standing Board on Saturday.

He asked the capital city to extend its relations with foreign counterparts and bring into play the support of the central government and coordinate with other localities in development. 

Regarding the upcoming 17th Party Congress of Hà Nội (2020-2025 term), the Politburo praised the Hà Nội Party Committee’s thorough, serious and scientific preparations, in terms of both documents and personnel.

However, the Politburo said, the draft political report should make deeper analysis and comparison between Hà Nội, regions and the country, as well as between tenures. 

It was reported that during the previous term, Hà Nội has completed all of the 16 criteria set at the 16th Party Congress of the city, with its economic growth higher than the national average and improved growth quality.

In 2020, the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is expected to exceed VNĐ1 quadrillion (US$45 billion) and its GRDP per capita at some $5,420, a rise of 1.5 times from 2015 and 1.8 times higher than the national average.

Hà Nội’s budget collection reached nearly VNĐ1.2 trillion in 2016-20, a nearly 1.64-fold increase as compared with the 2011-15 period.

Outstanding achievements have been made in attracting foreign investment that hit $25 billion in 2016-20, 3.9 times higher than the previous tenure, the report said.

The capital city accounts for more than 16 per cent of national GDP and 18.5 per cent of the country’s budget collection.

At the meeting, the Politburo suggested Hà Nội adjust its economic targets to match the latest situation, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and supplement sustainable development criteria such as human development and life expectancy indexes, along with those on the environment.

Hà Nội should gear towards regional and international development standards, and work to promote its locomotive role as well as its position as an international gateway of the country, the Politburo said. — VNS