The thousand-year-old capital city of Hanoi has grown to a new historical stature five years after the 12th National Assembly (NA) issued Resolution 15 to expand its administrative boundary.

Encompassing the whole neighbouring Ha Tay province, Me Linh district of Vinh Phuc province and four communes of Luong Son district, Hoa Binh province, t he current Hanoi sprawls over 3,328 square kilometres, tripling the former acreage. The city’s population now numbers over 7 million, living in 577 communes, districts and townships of 29 districts and towns.

Over the past five years, the capital city has always lived up to its role as the country’s heart, the national political-administrative epicentre and a hub of culture, science-technology, education, economics and international exchanges.

The city contributes over 10 percent of the nation’s GDP, with its economy posting an average growth rate of 9.51 percent during 2008-2012, 1.5 times higher than the national average rate.

Its export turnover surged to 10.3 billion USD in 2012 from 6.9 billion USD in 2008.

The city provided over 20 percent of the State budget revenues, channelling 146.3 trillion VND into the coffers in 2012.

“What Hanoi has done is quite comprehensive and its development is fast in the context of difficulties in the national economy,” Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi told the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the expansion anniversary.

“Residents in former Ha Tay province, Me Linh district and the four communes of Luong Son district which are now an integral part of Hanoi are all the more proud of the city’s development. The city’s positive changes have been highly valued by local people and international friends,” Nghi said.

There have been numerous developments in the fields of socio-culture, education and training, health, science and technology while urban planning, construction and management have seen remarkable improvements. Added to this, urban and rural infrastructure has been strongly developed, especially key transport projects.

“The reality over the past five years proves that the Party Central Committee, NA and Government have made a right decision in expanding the city’s administrative boundary, which is of historic significance and reflects a long-term vision for not only the capital city but also the development of the whole country to meet the revolution’s demands at a time of accelerating industrialisation, modernisation and international integration,” NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said at a meeting on July 31 to review five years after Hanoi was expanded.

The NA Chairman asked the capital city to continue striving for sustainable, quality and effective economic development, with increasing competitiveness while ensuring social security and taking lead in building an advanced culture imbued with strong national characteristics.

In further implementing the NA’s resolution, Hanoi is determined to effectively carry out the development orientation and tasks for the period from 2011-2020, building a civilised living environment with educated people to keep up its reputation as the city with a thousand-year–old civilization and the world’s city of peace.-VNA