Party chief orders HCMC to focus on infrastructure development

Meeting with HCMC leaders on Friday, the Party chief, 78, said: "The city needs to soon overcome its weaknesses in transport infrastructure, have more radical solutions to handle environmental problems, respond to climate change, sea level rise, water supply and drainage, as well as anti-flooding and waste treatment."

Trong, who has been Party chief since 2011, said HCMC should also improve the efficiency of urban planning and design, proactively coordinate with central ministries and neighbors in the southeast region, which include the industrial provinces Binh Duong and Dong Nai, to build a public transport system, develop ring roads, elevated roads, expressways, waterways to boost regional connections and maximize the economic potential of both the region and the city.

He also praised HCMC for its "impressive" recovery from the pandemic as the city recorded a minus economic growth rate last year but 3.82% in the first half of this year.

As the epicenter of Vietnam's latest Covid-19 wave, which he described as "unprecedented and unpredictable," HCMC has overcome the situation and maintained stability to date, he said.

He urged the city authorities to accomplish better growth to match its position as the southern region's economic hub.