A nationwide online meeting took place on 28 and 29 December to discuss the implementation of the National Assembly’s resolutions regarding the country’s socio-economic development tasks and the State budget estimates for next year.  The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

Secretary Anh and Chairman Tho participating in the online meeting

In Da Nang, municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh, municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, and other representatives from the city authorities were participants.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Phuc highlighted the country’s remarkable achievements during 2016.  Most notably, the total inflow of FDI into the country increased by 9% against last year to hit 15.8 billion USD, and the country welcomed about 10 million international tourists this year.  Job opportunities were created for over 1.6 million people nationwide, and the number of households living below the country’s poverty threshold decreased to only 8.5%.

The Da Nang leaders participating in the meeting proposed that the national government should issue preferential mechanisms for the Da Nang Hi-tech Park, and the central region’s key economic zone, as soon as possible.

It was also suggested that official announcements should be made by relevant government agencies regarding the granting of 400 billion VND from the national budget for Da Nang in order to help the city implement some key infrastructure projects in preparation for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November 2017.

As regards ways to make even more breakthroughs in the city’s tourism, Chairman Tho said that he would like the national government to release preferential policies for bolstering the development of the central region’s key tourism zone, which  consists of Da Nang and the provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam.

Furthermore, Chairman Tho asked for permission from the national government to establish a local tourist police force on a trial basis in a bid to deal with such existing problems blighting the city’s image as the harassment of tourists and illegal street vendors, as well as to ensure the safety of visitors arriving in the city.

The city leaders also suggested that the go-ahead should be given for Da Nang to decrease passenger service charges collected at the city’s International Airport to between 10 and 12 USD per person. 

The urgency was also underlined to implement the East-West Economic Corridor No 2 (EWEC2) project which will connect Da Nang with southern Laotian and northeast Thai localities in order to allow more Laotian and Thai visitors easier access to the city by road.

In particular, the Da Nang leaders underlined the need for the national government to approve next year’s granting of 3,811 billion VND from the national budget for the city to ensure local financial capacity to bolster its progress, and accelerate the growth of the whole central region and highlands.