Hanoi (VNA) – Da Nang has appreciated the contributionsand accompany of foreigners in the city in a tough year of 2020, and hoped to continueto receive more assistance from foreign individuals, organisations andbusinesses during the recovery process in the city and the central region as a whole, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le TrungChinh.

Speaking at a meeting with foreigners in the city on January 21, Chinhsaid that 2020 was an important year for Da Nang in accomplishing tasks for the2016-2020 period, but during the year, the city faced many difficulties due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

In the toughest time, Da Nang still prioritised investmentin development and ensuring security, defence and social welfare, he said.

Chinh noted that the city still saw some bright spots in theyear, including a year-on-year rise of nearly 38 percent in foreign directinvestment (FDI), and a rise in public investment disbursement.

Due to increasing demand for medicine amid the pandemic, the city’s pharmaceuticalindustry enjoyed growth of over 44 percent. Many other sectors also sawexpansion, including information and communications, finance-banking, andinsurance, he said.

The chairman affirmed that while the traditional form of external activities is limited due to impacts of COVID-19, the city has still worked tobroaden and strengthen friendship and cooperation with localities of countriesacross the world.

Particularly, the city has signed an agreement on setting uprelations with a foreign locality online for the first time withGold Coast city of Australia.

So far, Da Nang has established official cooperative ties with 45localities of 20 countries and territories worldwide, he said.

In 2020, Da Nang was honoured as a smart city of Vietnam,while its outstanding achievements in many areas were recognised, the official added./.