At the ceremony, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee announced its decision on appointment of the 99-member Party Committee of the new Hanoi.

Under the decision, the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board has 23 members with Party Politburo member Pham Quang Nghi appointed secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee and five others deputy secretaries.

Party Central Committee member and deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen The Thao is still chairman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee and another deputy secretary, Ngo Thi Doan Thanh chairwoman of the Hanoi City People’s Council.

Addressing the ceremony, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said the construction and development of Hanoi capital city have always been an issue of concern for the Party, the State and the entire people.

The Party leader also said the expansion of Hanoi’s administrative territory was considered a big political event of historical significance, adding that it would bring big challenges and opportunities that require more efforts to develop Hanoi into a beautiful, civilised and modern capital city that maintains its thousand-year cultural identities.