Vietnam’s capital city saw the opening of the Hanoi Municipal Party congress for the 2010-15 term on October 26 in the presence of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, with 493 participants representing almost 330,000 Party members.

In his opening speech, Pham Quang Nghi, Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, urged the 15th Party congress of Hanoi to consider key measures to speed up the renewal process in all fields and boost socio-economic development in the next five years to deserve the position and fully tap the potential of the capital city.

NA Chairman Trong praised Hanoi for overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges to obtain important achievements and make positive changes for the expanded city.

He also pointed at outstanding problems, including lower than expected levels of competitive economic activity and failure to uphold the role of “economic momentum” leader in the northern key economic zone.

He called on Hanoi to make greater efforts to gain a huge leap in the next five years and deserve the position of the nation’s political and administrative metropolis, a leader in culture, sciences and education and a national economic and international transaction hub, leading the nation in industrialisation and modernisation.

Nguyen The Thao, member of the Party Central Committee, Hanoi Party Committee’s Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, highlighted the capital’s success in maintaining high economic growth rates of over 10.4 percent.

Hanoi has managed to achieve a per-capita income of almost 2,200 USD a year, or almost 1.7 times over the national average, reported the city mayor.

The three-day congress will vote for a new executive committee for the new term and elect representatives to attend the 11th National Party Congress scheduled to open early next year.

The participants donated over 127 million VND (roughly 6,500 USD) in relief aid to flood victims in the central region./.