During a Lunar New Year visit to the capital city on February 12, Mr Manh called on the Municipal Party Committee and administration to pool all resources to fulfil its development tasks for 2010, with priority given to urban planning and management.

“The city must soon submit to the Party Political Bureau and implement its Capital Zone development plan with a long-term vision, as well as its blueprints for its sectors in line with the common development orientations,” said Mr Manh.

He recommended that the city speed up its programme of “Building an elegant, civilised and modern capital city” to deserve its position as the national political-administrative nerve centre and the major cultural, scientific, educational, economic and international transaction centre of the country.

He asked the city to make thorough preparations for a grand ceremony in October to celebrate its 1,000^th anniversary. To this end, he proposed that the municipal Party Committee and administration effectively address issues related to urban and land management, environmental pollution, flooding, and traffic congestion.

He reminded the municipal authorities to help local residents, especially the poor, social policy beneficiaries and those living in remote areas, to jubilantly celebrate the Tet holiday. He also asked them to maintain political security and social order and safety during the nine-day-long holiday.