Under the plan recently approved by the Prime Minister, the city will develop seven satellite centres in the neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Tien Giang.

Urban planning calls for creating international economic corridors such as HCM City-Moc Bai-Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and HCM City-Bangkok (Thailand).

Nguyen Thanh Tai, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said urban planning would help localities in the area develop sustainably, and would promote mutual assistance to achieve the goals set by the Government.

He said with a small land area and a high population density, HCM City finds it difficult to ensure a high standard of living for its residents.

Tai said the cooperation of local areas would help solve urban problems such as environmental sanitation and traffic congestion.

HCM City covers 30,400 square kilometers, adjoining seven neighbouing provinces.

Its population is expected to increase from 8 million to 20-22 million and the rate of urbanization to 77-80 percent by 2020.