Many constructive opinions and ideas about how to make a strong momentum for accelerating Da Nang’s progress in a sustainable manner were discussed at the ongoing 7^th session of the municipal People’s Council in its 9^th tenure for the 2016 - 2021 term.

Municipal People’s Council Chairman Nguyen Nho Trung addressing the event

In attendance at the official opening event on Tuesday were permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Viet Nam National Assembly (NA) Tong Thi Phong, municipal Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia, municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri, municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, municipal Fatherland Front Committee Chairwoman Dang Thi Kim Lien, municipal People’s Council members, and other invited guests.

In his remarks at the event, municipal People’s Council Chairman Nguyen Nho Trung highlighted the city’s positive results from the planning adjustments, making the list of key projects, assisting businesses in overcome their difficulties in association with the landmark campaign ‘2018: The Year of Investment Promotion’, opening more footpaths allowing public access to beaches, resolving illegal construction cases.

Thanks to these, the municipal government has won the trust and high praise from local citizens.

Delivering her instructions for the city, permanent NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong congratulated the freshly-elected city key officials on their new posts. She underlined a must-do for the city to strictly implement the resolutions adopted at the recent 5^th session of the 14^th NA.

Importance should also be attached to drastically deploying the key tasks for the remaining months of the year, accelerating administrative and judicial reforms, ensuring the security, and actively dealing with environmental issues of most concern to the general public.

“I hope that, with new belief and new momentum, the municipal People’s Council would fulfil its duties well, and promote its internal strengths in an attempt to make Da Nang a clean, civilised, modern city”, Vice Chairwoman Phong said.

Permanent NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong addressing the event

In his speech on the city’s key task for the remaining months of this year, municipal People’s Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh underlined the significance of compiling a master plan for the city’s progress by 2030 with a vision towards 2045 in association with the city’s general planning structure, and identifying ways for the establishment of coastal economic zones in combination with the development of the soon-to-be-built Lien Chieu Port and the Da Nang Bay. One emphasis will be placed on promoting the deployment of the city’s landmark campaign ‘2018: The Year of Investment Promotion’.

In particular, some municipal People’s Council members, also on Tuesday, delivered their thematic reports on the implementation of public construction projects funded by the city budget. It was reported that between 2003 and 2017, a total of 68,258 billion VND from the city budget was poured into local basic construction projects.

Of note, delegate Luong Nguyen Minh Triet pointed out to some shortcomings in the management of public construction investment, especially the inefficient use or the downgrading of such projects as the city’s multi-functional sports hall and the Thanh Nien (Youth) golf driving range.

Another delegate, Mr Phung Phu Phong, proposed that all-level authorities in the city should tighten their management of coastal projects in terms of investment planning and land use. He also highlighted a need to earmark more land fund for the establishment of public entertainment and bathing areas catering for both locals and visitors, and to open more walkways to promote public access to beaches.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan said the municipal government is implementing plans for taking back land which has been handed over to businesses at stagnant coastal and downtown projects in order to develop pubic works for the sake of the general public.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan expressing his opinions at the event

In his closing speech, municipal People’s Council Chairman Nguyen Nho Trung remarked that a public footpath at the end of Ho Xuan Huong Street and another at between the Furama Resort Danang and the Ariyana Danang Tourism Complex in Ngu Hanh Son District’s Khue My Ward will have been created by the end of this year.

The soon-to-be-opened footpaths will help to create airy space connecting beaches with nearby residential areas, as well as to promote public beach use for the general public, and enhance the beauty of urban landscapes.

As for key local projects, the municipal People’s Council leader urged relevant local agencies to join forces with national government units and the authorities of other localities to start work on such projects as the Da Nang University Urban Area, and the dredging of the Co Co River which connects Da Nang with Hoi An.

Also, it was revealed at the ongoing session that in the first half of this year, Da Nang’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) increased by 7.54 % compared with the same period last year. The total of taxes collected in the city reached over 13,415 billion VND, fulfilling 51.85% of the year's estimates set by the city.