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Sep 25, 2023 / 12:03

Hanoi to hold capital planning conference in late September

This conference serves as a significant platform for the Hanoi public to provide input on the city's planning direction.

Hanoi plans to hold a conference in late September on the direction of the capital planning for the 2021-2030 period as part of a broader initiative to ensure the timely completion of the planning process.

 A corner of Hanoi from above. Photo: Cong Hung/The Hanoi Times

Le Ngoc Anh, director of the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Studies (HISEDS), said that since last year, the municipal People's Committee has been overseeing the creation of an Orientation Outline for Capital Planning.

This Orientation Outline underwent multiple rounds of feedback and refinement, culminating in its approval at the 12th Conference of the Party Executive Committee on April 27, 2023.

To harness the expertise and creativity of experts, scholars, officials, party members, and educators to finalize the Orientation Outline, the Party Committee of Hanoi Universities and Colleges, in collaboration with the HISEDS, will host a scientific conference on the Hanoi Capital Planning Orientation for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision extending to 2050.

“This conference serves as a significant platform for the public community in Hanoi to provide input on the city's planning direction, thereby contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of both the Capital and the nation,” said Anh.

Anh added that the event, scheduled for September 29, 2023, at Hanoi National Economics University, is expected to draw 350 participants. This diverse group will include leaders from central agencies, ministries, and branches, as well as Hanoi officials and leaders from numerous universities, academies, and colleges in the capital. In addition, the conference will be attended by a substantial number of reputable experts and scholars from various research domains.

The primary focus of the conference will be to discuss and make recommendations for the Hanoi Capital Planning Orientation for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision for 2050.

Key topics include the four planning principles, four philosophical ideologies, five sets of perspectives on the Capital's development, three development scenarios and objectives for the Capital, three pivotal phases (institutional, infrastructure development, and human resources), two driving regions for Capital development (a city in the northern Red River area and another in the western part of the city), industrial development directions, and plans and strategies for implementing the planning.

Creating consensus in drafting capital planning

At the 12th Conference of the 17th Hanoi City Party Executive Committee held in late April 2023, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung expressed his high appreciation for the methodical and meticulous approach taken by the authority in preparing the Hanoi Capital Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision up to 2050.  

Dung highlighted the significance of various conferences and seminars held to consult with experts and scholars, and to learn from the planning experiences of various agencies and localities.

The Hanoi Party chief also stressed the importance of continuing to direct relevant units to leverage the insights of experts and scholars and to gather feedback from ministries, departments, branches, and central authorities.  

He emphasized the need to involve local people and publicly solicit their opinions, in order to tap their wisdom and foster unity and consensus.

Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Urban Planning and Development, noted that Hanoi is currently undertaking a range of crucial and pioneering tasks, poised to make a significant impact on urban planning. These include the formulation of the Hanoi Capital Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision extending to 2050.

“This particular planning endeavor is unique in that it adopts an integrated approach encompassing 17 sectors and addressing 30 different aspects,” he said.

Given this complexity, Nghiem underscored the pressing need to fully harness and promote the expertise of the city's team of professionals, scholars, and intellectuals.

Director of the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Studies Le Ngoc Anh from HISEDS noted that during the conference, specific groups of topics will be the focus of discussion and consultation, as follows:

1) Assessment of Hanoi's development conditions, including its potential advantages for capital development, cultural and civilization aspects, as well as available resources.

2) Examination of the current state of socio-economic development, land use, the urban and rural systems, technical infrastructure development, and environmental management and protection.

3) Formulation of principles for the effective implementation of the planning process; exploration of the ideology and philosophy underpinning capital development.

4) Deliberation on various perspectives concerning the capital's development, such as the general perspective, spatial organization, defense and security, infrastructure and urban connectivity, and resource utilization and environmental protection.

5) Definition of development goals for the capital; identification of three pivotal stages for achieving breakthroughs and two key areas for driving the Capital's development.

6) Establishment of directions for the development and spatial organization of various industries and sectors, including services, construction, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, culture, social domains, urban and rural systems, connectivity infrastructure, and national defense and security.

7) Discussion of planning solutions, covering aspects like organizing and overseeing planning implementation, mobilizing investment capital, developing human resources, addressing environmental concerns, promoting scientific science and technological innovation, devising mechanisms and policies for integrated development, and managing urban and rural development.

Anh expressed the hope that through this conference, valuable advisory insights will be gathered to enable timely enhancements and refinement of the Capital Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision extending to 2050.