Last Friday, the Chairman of Da Nang People’s Committee, Mr Van Huu Chien, and other city leaders met with ex-pat residents living in the city, the Russian Consul General in Da Nang, Mr Valentin M Dikushin, and the Laotian Consul General, Mr Phommaseng Khamsene.

In his welcome speech Chairman Chien said that despite the difficulties, 2013 had witnessed positive results in Da Nang’s socio-economic development.  The city’s gross domestic product (GDP) had increased by 8.1% year-on-year, export turnover surpassed 1.3 billion USD, which is the highest ever recorded in the city, and the total volume of cargo transported through the Da Nang Port reached over 5 million tonnes.  Most notably, 2013 also saw the strong development of the local tourism sector.  Da Nang was ranked among the top 10 most attractive destinations in Asia in 2013 by the readers of Smart Travel Asia.

Honouring outstanding foreign organisations and individuals

The city has so far established cooperative relations with 31 localities from 15 countries worldwide.  Over 500 foreign delegations visited the city in order to seek investment opportunities as well as to promote their cooperation and friendship with the city.  Thanks to this, Da Nang’s position has been enhanced in the region and in the international arena as a whole.

The city leader spoke highly of the FDI projects which have been completed and those that are currently underway in the city.  He vowed that the city authorities would create favourable conditions to facilitate these projects.  In addition, Chairman Chien extended his Tet wishes to all foreign organisations and ex-pats in the city.  He took the opportunity to appeal for them to do their utmost to make more contributions to the city’s progress.

Also at the event, 47 foreign organisations and individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit from the municipal People’s Committee in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the city’s development.