Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the 11th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee (Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu)

Reports presented at the Congress showed that in the last five years, the city has maintained its role as Vietnam’s economic driver. The city made up more than 22 percent of the country’s economy and achieved a growth of 7.7 percent during 2016-2019. It was the largest contributor to the State budget, accounting for 27 percent of the total budget revenue.

In his remarks at the Congress, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised the local Party, administration, and people for overcoming difficulties and challenges and seizing opportunities to develop the city and contribute to national development.

Prime Minister Phuc said: "We need to build a smart city with rapid, sustainable growth, maintain its role as the country’s economic engine, promote cultural development, ensure social equality, improve social welfare, and build happy families. Ho Chi Minh City should be a hub for economics, fiance, trade, science, technology, and culture in Southeast Asia. This is a heavy but proud task for the city. The city needs to bring into play its potential advantages with high quality human resources, technological advances, innovation, developed infrastructure,  and robust industries."

In the next five years, the HCM Party Committee intends to create breakthroughs in city management, infrastructure development, human resources and culture development. Another key program is to promote the development of businesses, innovation start-ups and key products.