A grand ceremony took place at the Tien Son Sports Arena on Saturday, 31 December, to mark the 20^th anniversary of Da Nang’s recognition as a centrally-governed city on 1 January 1997.

Participants at the event

The event was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, former State President Truong Tan Sang, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh, municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri, municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, and other city leaders, plus representatives from ministries, national and local agencies, along with other invited guests.

Addressing the event, Secretary Anh remarked that over the past 2 decades, Da Nang has recorded numerous significant achievements in all local aspects.  Most notably, the city has seen rapid growth with a shift in the city’s economic structure towards the right direction of service-industry-agriculture.  Furthermore, local defence and security has been secured, and numerous practical and humanitarian activities, and social welfare policies, have been implemented effectively across the city.

Secretary Anh speaking at the event

The achievements mentioned above have been mainly attributed to great care from the national government, kind support from domestic and international friends, the spirit of unyieldingness, solidarity and consensus amongst local residents, as well as strong determination and creativity of the city's leaders.

In particular, Secretary Anh underlined that the most impressive breakthrough his city has made is the ultimate trust of local residents in the city’s authorities because all local policies and strategies are always for the benefit of local citizens.

The city leader also expressed his strong belief that Da Nang would have even brighter future thanks to the great efforts made by the local authorities, the high level of consensus amongst locals, active support from the national government, bilateral cooperation with foreign localities, and especially local residents’ boundless love for their beloved city.

During his speech at the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly praised Da Nang for its remarkable achievements over the past 2 decades since it was recognised as a centrally-governed city on 1 January 1997.

In particular, for many years, Da Nang was one of the country’s leading localities in the Provincial Competitiveness Index and the Information Technology Application Readiness Index rankings.

Prime Minister Phuc at the event

He highlighted, “Da Nang has reached new heights as its economic scale, and its average per capita income, rose by 2.5 times and over 14 times respectively.  The liveable city is becoming more attractive to visitors from both home and abroad.  Most notably, there have been a large number of famous patriots, poets, musicians and singers born in this dynamic city.”

The national government leader also took the opportunity to congratulate Da Nang on being selected to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November 2017.  He noted that this large-scale international event will help the city affirm its positions in the national and global arena.

He also urged the city authorities to work closely with national ministries and agencies, and its neighbouring localities, to ensure the success of next year's international event.

He hoped that Da Nang would record even greater achievements in the years ahead to deserve the trust of the Party, State and local residents.