General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong attended and directed the 17th Hanoi Party Congress.

Also attending were former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former President Truong Tan Sang; National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An; representatives of leaders of central ministries, departments, and branches, and a number of localities, along with 497 outstanding delegates representing the intelligence, political mettle, will, belief, and aspirations of more than 450,000 party members in the City Party Committee.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 17th Congress of the Hanoi Party Committee, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the Congress is a very important political event for the Party Committee, government and people of the capital; at the same time, it attracts the attention of people nationwide.

The congress will focus on discussing the city's development strategy in the coming period with the goal of "Exemplary construction of a clean and strong Party and Political System; arousing the will, promoting the thousand-year-old tradition of civilization and heroism, the strength of great national unity; promoting innovation, creativity and international integration; building the Capital to be increasingly rich, beautiful, civilized and modern...

On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong sent his best regards and best wishes to all cadres, party members, people and soldiers of the capital.

Overview of the Congress.

But with great efforts, solidarity and determination, the Party Committee, government and people of the Capital have overcome many difficulties and challenges, strictly followed the leadership and direction of the Central Government, and had many dynamic and creative ways to bring the Party's policies and resolutions, the State's decisions and the City Party Congress Resolution into life.

In particular, the City has completed and exceeded all targets set by the Resolution of the 16th Party Congress, with 4 targets exceeding the plan, of which 3 targets were completed 2 years ahead of schedule, in which the economy continued to grow well, higher than the national average. The total product in the area in the period of 2016 - 2020 is estimated to increase by 7.39%, per capita is estimated to reach 5,420 USD (1.8 times higher than the national average). Hanoi has contributed over 16% of GDP, 18.5% of budget revenue, 20% of domestic revenue and 8.6% of total import and export turnover of the whole country.

The capital is increasingly demonstrating its role as a major economic and international trading center, creating an important driving force for the development of the Red River Delta and the whole country. Hanoi continues to be the leading locality in the country in terms of the number of communes meeting "new rural" standards, with many production models bringing high economic efficiency. The material and spiritual life of rural people is increasingly improved. Urban planning, construction, management and development have made much progress; the appearance of the capital is increasingly brighter, greener, cleaner, more beautiful, more spacious, civilized and modern.

The development of culture - society, education - training, health, science - technology... has achieved many important results; Politics - society is stable, national defense - security of the Capital continues to be strengthened, social order and safety have changed for the better; foreign relations and international integration have been expanded, creating important marks. In particular, the work of building the Party and the political system has been promoted and achieved many positive results.

"Hanoi is one of the leading Party Committees in seriously and creatively implementing the Central Committee's resolutions, especially the Resolutions of the 4th, 6th and 7th Central Conferences of the 12th tenure, in conjunction with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle; always maintaining and promoting the tradition of solidarity, unity, cooperation, responsibility and mettle in Party committees and organizations at all levels.

There have been many efforts in consolidating party bases and resolving complex issues of political security, order and social safety. The leadership capacity and fighting strength of party organizations at all levels and the quality of cadres and party members have been gradually improved, creating a foundation for building an increasingly clean and strong City Party Committee, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership and direction.

Continue to innovate the content and methods of operation of the government, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations. The achievements of the Capital Party Committee in the past term are great and important, creating a clear change in all areas of social life, actively contributing to the common achievements of the whole country," said the General Secretary and President.

In addition to the achievements, the General Secretary and President also pointed out the shortcomings and limitations: Although the economy has a fairly high growth rate, in general, it has not created "big breakthroughs" and is not commensurate with the potential and strengths of the Capital; productivity, quality and competitiveness of the City's key and spearhead products are not high. Satisfaction indexes on administrative services, governance and public administration efficiency are still low compared to the whole country.

The work of urban planning, construction, management, order, traffic safety, and environmental protection has some limitations, confusion, passivity, and has not kept up with reality. The changes in the cultural and social fields are not really commensurate with the role, potential, and position of the Capital.

The work of ensuring political security, social order and safety; receiving people, resolving complaints and denunciations... still has some limitations. The situation of crime, security and order in society is still complicated. Some cases of violations of construction order, land use... have not been focused on and handled resolutely and promptly, causing public outrage; some complicated and prolonged cases have even occurred, becoming hot spots of rural security, causing serious consequences...

The General Secretary and President suggested that this Congress should deeply analyze and clarify the causes of the results, progress, weaknesses and shortcomings; draw lessons and propose appropriate and correct measures to promote advantages, resolutely correct and quickly overcome shortcomings and limitations; consolidate and strengthen the trust and support of cadres, party members and people.

Emphasizing the position, role and special importance of Hanoi, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong said that Hanoi is the capital of the whole country, the face of the nation, the gathering place of the quintessence, the land of talented people, the convergence of the sacred spirit of the nation, representing the cultural and heroic tradition, peace and friendship of the Vietnamese people, the place where the trust and hope of compatriots and soldiers nationwide are placed.

Therefore, Hanoi must both promote its glorious tradition and achievements, effectively exploit its potentials and advantages, make the most of opportunities, mobilize comprehensive resources and especially the trust, consensus and unanimity of cadres, party members and people to serve the cause of building and developing the capital.

“The question is: How will our capital develop in the coming decades? I think that the Party Committee, government and people of Hanoi need to have a deeper and more complete understanding of the position, role, status and responsibility of the capital and of the capital’s Party Committee. Hanoi has a particularly important role and position, with many advantages and potentials that no other place has.

Therefore, the Hanoi Party Committee needs to have a vision not just for one or several terms, but must look further, with appropriate methods and steps for each specific period and in line with the overall strategic thinking for development of our country in the coming period," the General Secretary and President requested.

Hanoi Party Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue presented flowers to thank General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

Improve urban management, especially management of social order, construction order, traffic safety, urban discipline and civilization, strengthen management of exploitation, effective and sustainable use of resources, environmental protection... Harmoniously resolve economic growth with cultural development, implement social progress and equity; develop the economy based on cultural foundation, associated with promoting tradition and promoting Party building work.

“The Hanoi Party Committee needs to pay special attention to continuing to create stronger changes in Party building and rectification work in the spirit of the 4th Resolution of the 11th and 12th Central Committees; promote the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle; promote the spirit of self-cultivation, moral training and exemplary responsibility of cadres and Party members; the higher the position, the more exemplary one must be.

Combine strengthening discipline, discipline, and the rule of law with building a clean and strong Party organization in terms of politics, ideology, organization, and ethics. Regularly educate and train to improve political capacity, foster personality, and revolutionary ethics of cadres and party members to prevent and effectively fight against the diseases of individualism.

“Strengthen the protection of the Party’s political and ideological foundation, resolutely and regularly fight, criticize, and reject erroneous, distorted, and hostile viewpoints; fight, prevent, and repel the degradation of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle, and the manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party. Implement well the regulations on controlling power in personnel work, and fight against the abuse of power and positions. Strictly and synchronously handle Party discipline, administrative discipline, and handle by law the violating officials,” said the General Secretary and President.

According to the General Secretary and President, with the spirit of "Hanoi for the whole country, with the whole country", Hanoi needs to be more proactive, seeking the help of central ministries, branches, provinces and cities nationwide and international organizations. At the same time, central ministries, branches, provinces and cities also need to further promote their responsibilities, pay attention to closely coordinating with Hanoi, promptly support to remove difficulties and obstacles, especially in terms of mechanisms, policies, planning, plans, investment resources, to meet the requirements of building and developing the capital.

The General Secretary and President believes that with a thousand-year history of civilization and heroism, a city for peace, with the spirit of innovation, creativity, democracy, discipline, solidarity and responsibility, the Party Committee, government and people of Hanoi will grasp and promote all advantages and opportunities, strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges, join hands and strive to build the capital Hanoi to become increasingly rich, beautiful, civilized and modern./.