Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked localities included in the Project Adjusting Hanoi Capital Metropolitan Construction🀅 Planning to bring intoꦑ full play their potential and advantages, especially in land and tourism, to develop further.

Speaking at a conference on the project in Hanoi on March 3, the leader urged the localities to be active and creative in attracting investments, particularly foreign resources, to strengthen their socio-economic infrastructure and raise people’s living standards. The project, which is set up by the Ministry of Construction, encompasses original Hanoi and its surrounding provinces of Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang. Covering a total area of over 24,300 square kilometres or 7.3 percent of the national area, the metropolitan region is expected to become an integrated multi-polar megalopolis by 2050, performing the function of an economic complex of not only Vietnam but also the Asia-Pacific region. The project’s objective is connectivity between the targeted localities towards sustainable development, a comprehensive and modern infrastructure network, and development balance between rural and urban areas. At the conference, PM Nguyen Tan Dung requested the localities to coordinate with each other to carry forward their land resources and State budget, and attract foreign investments to actualise the project. The leader called for greater efforts to speed up the construction of an elevated railway and a metro rail while halting unnecessary transport projects in the region. Private investors should be encouraged to take part in high-quality railway projects, he said, adding that waste treatment facilities should be located far from residential areas to prevent environmental pollution. Participants at the event suggested specific measures for the development of the regional transport system, trade, industry, agriculture, tourism, health care and education services, as well as environmental pollution in the region. The Construction Ministry, which is also the Steering Committee for Hanoi Capital Metropolitan Planning and Construction Investment, was urged to acquire such proposals as soon as possible to submit to the PM for approval.-VNA