Hai Phong (VNA) - The 16th PartyCongress of the northern port city of Hai Phong for the 2020-2025 tenure kickedoff on October 14 with the participation of 350 official delegates.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Politburo member and Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc praised the municipal Party Committee for well organising the Party congressat all levels and strictly implementing regulations on preparing for the 16th Party Congress of the city.

While applauding the comprehensive and crucial achievements of the municipalParty Organisation, people, and army, PM Phuc said he agrees with the three developmentpillars that will be implemented during the new tenure: hi-tech industry; the marineeconomy and seaport logistics; and tourism.

He stressed that Hai Phong needs an innovative way to attract more resourcesfor development, including investment from major domestic and foreignenterprises in hi-tech sectors.

Attracting FDI should be selective, while it is necessary to ensure harmonybetween industry, services, and environmental protection in developing the hi-techindustry, he noted.

The city must seek ways to maximise domestic and foreign investment potentialto develop a modern marine economy, together with developing tech-based logisticsservices.

He urged local authorities to work towards developing Hai Phong into a greentourism centre with diversified, high-quality services, a centre for education,training, health, culture, and science and technology in the northern coastalregion, and an important traffic hub of the country.

He asked for efforts to enhance the municipal Party Organisation’s leadershipand fighting strength, building a clean, strong, and streamlined political systemwith effective operations.

PM Phuc also underlined the importance of improving the effectiveness ofinspection work in Party organisations and strictly handling cadresand Party members who violate the Party’s discipline and State laws.

According to the political report of the municipal Party Committee, over thelast five years the main socio-economic targets set out in the Resolution ofthe 15th Party Congress of the city have been completed, of which 12 of 20targets were exceeded both in terms of timeline and growth quality.

The city’s economy has recorded strong growth and its size has increased 2.1-foldsince 2015. Its technical infrastructure has been modernised, while the fieldsof industry, trade, tourism, seaports, and transport infrastructure have witnessedsignificant breakthroughs.

Hai Phong is striving to become a modern industrialised city, a key maritime economichub, and an international tourist centre by 2025.

PM Phuc also presented the Ho Chi Minh Order - a noble award from the Party andthe State - to the Party Organisation, authorities, and people of Hai Phongcity./.