PROMOTING THE STRENGTH OF UNITY AND SOLIDARITY TO BUILD THE CAPITAL TO BE MORE AND MORE PROSPEROUS, CIVILIZED, AND MODERN

Hanoi, the moments of October are truly special. From the August Revolution, National Day, September 2nd at Ba Dinh Square, to the historic days of October 10th, 1954, when the Capital was brilliant with flags and flowers with the utmost joy of welcoming the victorious army back. The event marked a turning point of great significance, opening a new period of great glory in the thousand-year history of Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi.

MISSION AND STRENGTH OF THE HEROIC CAPITAL

The period of 70 years compared to the more than thousand-year history of the Capital is not long, but this is a very proud period and has a particularly important meaning. Throughout the past time, the Party Committee, government and people of the Capital have promoted the strength of solidarity, bravery, and creativity, taking the lead in carrying out political tasks, together with the country overcoming many challenging stages, cultivating the cultural and heroic traditions of Thang Long so that Hanoi can shine more brightly in the glorious Ho Chi Minh era.

After the liberation day, the Capital city of Hanoi immediately embarked on restoring and developing the economy, culture and society, overcoming the consequences left by the colonial regime. Our capital city has made great efforts to build socialism while working with the people of the North to support the battlefield in the South. During the years of the resistance war against the US, the country was temporarily divided, Hanoi and the North were often fiercely attacked by the enemy. However, in the most difficult moments, the capital city remained steadfast in its belief in the Party, steadfast in the truth that “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”, striving to overcome many difficulties, overcome all pain and loss, compete in labour production, create the material foundation of socialism, join hands with the people of the North to build a great rear and become a solid support for the great frontline in the South to defeat the invaders.

Fighting tenaciously, courageously and extremely creatively, Hanoi, together with the army and people of the North, achieved the resounding victory of “Dien Bien Phu in the air” in 1972, made an important contribution to forcing the US imperialists to sign the Paris Agreement to withdraw their troops from our country, paving the way for the Great Spring Victory of 1975, bringing the country back together.

After the country was reunified, Hanoi and the people of the whole country made efforts to overcome countless difficulties due to the severe consequences of the war, and the country was besieged and embargoed because the centralised bureaucratic subsidy mechanism was no longer suitable. In the face of such severe challenges, under the leadership of the Party, Hanoi and the whole country are determined to carry out the renovation process, gradually helping the country overcome the socio-economic crisis, achieve many important achievements, and continue to develop.

From 1986 to now, Hanoi has been an exemplary leader of the country in carrying out the renovation initiated and led by the Party. The achievements in the nearly 40 years of Doi Moi have affirmed the heroic capital city’s strong rise, especially in implementing the historic resolution on expanding Hanoi’s geographical boundary from August 1, 2008. Despite facing many difficulties and challenges on that journey, Hanoi always takes the lead, from Party building to socio-economic development and ensuring defence and security. In that effort, the city’s Party organisation has always demonstrated its role of pioneering and setting an example, constantly reforming its leadership method to move Hanoi forward steadily as wished by President Ho Chi Minh that “The Hanoi Party organisation must set an example for other Party organisations.”

HANOI FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE COUNTRY

In recent years, along with the country, Hanoi has faced numerous difficulties and challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the global economic downturn, and most recently, Typhoon Yagi, which severely damaged infrastructure and affected people’s lives. But thanks to many bold, correct and prompt measures, as well as the tradition of solidarity and high consensus, the city authorities have led their people to overcome natural disasters and epidemics.

In times of hardship, the spirit of comradeship and brotherhood shines even brighter and becomes more precious. The image of officials at all levels, along with the armed forces and various sectors and organisations, standing shoulder to shoulder with the people to overcome difficulties and caring for everything from their safety and health to their meals and sleep has left a truly profound impression, both strengthening the great national unity bloc and building more trust in the Party, government and the whole political system.

Along with that, the city also focused on directing recovery efforts from storm and flood damage, promptly implementing effective economic solutions to support people in restoring production and business, and early continuation of social security policies, ensuring that no one is left behind. At the same time, Hanoi also stands by and supports other provinces and cities in overcoming the consequences of storms and floods, clearly demonstrating the spirit of “Hanoi for the whole country, together with the whole country”.

The development of Hanoi has always received attention, leadership, and guidance from the Party Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, Government, and National Assembly, as well as coordination and assistance from central committees, ministries, sectors, organisations and localities throughout the country. These are the internal strengths that have helped the capital city achieve many comprehensive, remarkable and proud accomplishments.

The city has maintained continuous growth for decades, with labour productivity increasing by an average of 7% annually over the nearly 40 years of Doi Moi. The capital city’s economic growth is higher than the national average. Government revenue has set new higher milestones over the years, reaching 410 trillion VND (16.1 billion USD) in 2023 and 376.430 trillion VND (14.8 billion USD) in the first nine months of 2024, equivalent to 92.1% of the full-year target and up 22.2% year on year.

Social security and social progress have received due attention; national defence and security have been consolidated and enhanced; the material and spiritual life of the people have been constantly improved. Hanoi has been established as the locality with the highest human development index in the country, while also in the top rankings in education and training. The care of people's health and care for families of policy beneficiaries and national contributors is listed among the top priorities.

The building of new-style rural areas in Hanoi was completed two years ahead of schedule. To date, 100% of communes and districts in the city have met the new-style rural standards, with 18/18 districts and towns having met the new-style rural criteria; 172 communes have been recognised as advanced new-style rural areas; 65 communes have been honoured as exemplary new-style rural areas. This is an important achievement which contributes to improving the lives of people in rural areas as well as to narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas and creating even and sustainable development throughout the city. People's lives are increasingly improved with an average annual income of over 151 million VND/person. The poverty rate in 2023 was 0.03%, many districts no longer have any households living in poverty.

Urban planning, construction and management, traffic order and safety have seen positive changes. Many key traffic projects have been deployed and put into use, such as the two urban railway lines Cat Linh - Ha Dong and Nhon - Hanoi Station. Along with the basic completion of Ring Road 1, Ring Road 2, Ring Road 3, Hanoi and the provinces of Hung Yen and Bac Ninh are resolutely implementing the Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region Project, striving to complete the road by 2025. Once the route is put into operation, it will open more space, thus creating more development momentum for the entire Red River Delta.

The city’s cultural and social sector continues to develop in both scale and quality, in which many development indicators in the fields of education, health, culture, and sports lead the country. The culture of Thang Long, Doai Region, and other cultural regions have been deeply integrated, complimenting each other to form a common cultural identity of Hanoi, expanding cultural links with the whole country and international friends. The Hanoi Party Committee issued Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, dated February 22, 2022, on “Developing cultural industries in the capital for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030 and 2045”, establishing Hanoi as the first locality in the country to have a specific resolution on developing cultural industry. This shows the great determination of the entire city's political system to create comprehensive and sustainable development for the cultural industry, in terms of scale, product quality, services and markets, making it a key economic sector with high growth rate, proportion, and added value.

These significant results are attributed to the sound leadership, direction and management of Party committees and authorities at all levels. On August 7, 2023, the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee issued Directive No. 24-CT/TU on enhancing discipline and sense of responsibility towards the settlement of works throughout the city’s political system in order to promptly resolve new and difficult tasks.

The city has also been actively implementing the decentralisation and delegation of authority aimed at increasing the autonomy of localities, both to enhance the effectiveness of management and administration and to efficiently invest in social and transportation infrastructure.

THE SCALE, POSITION, AND STATURE OF THE CITY TODAY

Looking back over the past 70 years, everyone must feel pleased and proud to see the strength and potential of the capital city continuously developing. From a city with a small area and population (152.2 square kilometres with 437,000 people) in 1954, Hanoi today has the stature of a large urban centre with an area of 3,359.84 kilometres and a population of approximately 8.5 million.

The Hanoi Party Committee has grown stronger, with 50 affiliated Party committees and over 480,000 party members. With many noble titles, including "Heroic Capital" and "City for Peace" and being awarded the Golden Star Order by the Party and the State three times, the Hanoi Party Committee, authorities, and people take pride alongside the entire country in building and developing the capital to gradually fulfil its role as the political-administrative centre of the nation, the heart of the country, a major centre for culture, science, education, and international integration, and a beloved image in the hearts of every citizen and international friends. As late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: "Hanoi has never had such scale, position, stature, and development opportunities as it does now, but the demands placed on Hanoi must also be higher than those on other localities. The Hanoi Party Committee needs to have a vision that is not just for one or a few terms but must look further, with appropriate methods and steps, to fully utilise opportunities and resources to serve the cause of building and developing the capital”.

These are also important foundations for the capital city to continue striving toward greater goals in the next phase. To achieve this, the City’s Party Committee has determined to make further efforts and determination to focus on leading and directing the work of building a clean and strong Party and political system to complete and exceed the targets set by the 17th City Party Congress. Alongside this, the city will continue to prepare thoroughly in terms of documents and personnel to successfully organise the Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 18th City Party Congress, contributing to the successful organisation of the 14th National Party Congress.

Regarding personnel work, the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee has been prioritising quality, requiring the committee for the new tenure to exemplify political resolve, intellect, quality, ethics, lifestyle, capacity, and reputation to truly be a centre of unity, cleanliness, and strength, uniting will and action; possessing firm political resolve, vision, innovative thinking, and desire for development, closely connected to the people.

At the same time, it is necessary to focus on assessing the actual cadres to “not miss” those who are truly virtuous and talented to join the new Party Committee. It is essential to reject those who are not politically steadfast, not steadfast in the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints, whose qualities, ethics, capacity, and prestige have declined, and whose sense of organisation and discipline is poor, who lack solidarity, who are opportunistic, evasive, pushy, and are afraid of responsibility.

The Congress documents must also be built to ensure quality and progress, truly crystallising the intelligence, sentiment, and responsibility of each cadre, party member, and people of the capital. In particular, the Hanoi Party Committee will focus on concretising General Secretary and President To Lam’s instructions for Hanoi in the coming period: “The Capital must develop rapidly and sustainably, harmoniously combining economy with culture, environmental protection; ensuring security, safety, and happiness of the people”. The capital's development philosophy is based on five pillars: culture and people; three transformations (green transformation - digital transformation - circular economy); synchronous, modern, and connected infrastructure; digital economy and smart city; science, technology and innovation.

The City Party Committee continues to promote the implementation of Conclusion No. 01-KL/TW dated May 18, 2021, of the 13th Politburo on continuing to implement Directive No. 05-CT/TU on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle in conjunction with the implementation of Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW dated October 25, 2021, of the Central Party Committee, on promoting Party building and rectification and the political system. Resolutely prevent, repel, and strictly handle cadres and party members who have degraded in politics, ethics, and lifestyle and manifested "self-evolution" and "self-transformation". It is necessary to constantly improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party organisation, the management capacity of the government apparatus, and the activities of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations to be increasingly practical and effective and expand and promote the people's mastery. It is necessary to maintain political stability, ensure security and order, and social safety, and protect the safety of key agencies, activities of the Party and State, and major events of the country. Improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration activities, and take advantage of all resources and favourable environments for the development of the capital.

The city also focuses on concretising Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022, of the Politburo on "Orientations and tasks for the development of Hanoi Capital to 2030, with a vision to 2045" and bringing the Capital Law (amended) into life soon, effectively removing "bottlenecks" and "knots" in mechanisms, freeing up resources, promoting the development of the city; at the same time, promptly completing the conditions and procedures to upgrade districts to districts, first of all, Dong Anh and Gia Lam districts; developing two affiliated cities.

The Northern City by the Red River (Dong Anh - Me Linh - Soc Son) and the Western City (Hoa Lac - Xuan Mai). Hanoi will also construct more bridges across the Red River, such as Tran Hung Dao, Tu Lien, Thuong Cat, Hong Ha, Me So, etc., while supplementing the dual-use functions of the Hoa Lac and Gia Lam airports, opening up opportunities for trade and more efficient development.

Hanoi continues to focus on investing in health and education, contributing to improving health and quality of life for its people. Alongside this, it prioritises preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of Thang Long-Hanoi, a thousand-year civilisation and heroism; enhancing the spiritual life of the people; and developing the culture and people of Hanoi as a vital resource for the rapid and sustainable development of the capital. Ultimately, all the achievements in building and developing the capital aim for the happiness, prosperity, and peace of its citizens, ensuring that everyone benefits from the fruits of development.

BUI THI MINH HOAI
Politburo Member, Secretary of Hanoi Municipal Party Committee,
Head of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation

Published: October 2024
Design: BAO MINH