(Construction) - On August 17th in Hanoi, Minister of Construction Nguyễn Thanh Nghị, who chaired the Appraisal Council, led a meeting to review the General Plan for Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), with a vision extending to 2040.

To improve the quality of the Project Explanatory Report, experts and members of the Appraisal Council, including representatives from the Government Office, various ministries, sectors, and central professional associations, provided critical feedback and recommendations. These inputs aimed to assist the planning and consulting units in refining the Project, focusing particularly on technical infrastructure, transportation systems, water supply and drainage, solid waste management, and functional zoning.

Overview of the meeting

Minister Nguyễn Thanh Nghị remarked that Thu Duc City represents a pioneering model as the first city directly under a centrally governed city. It plays a crucial role within the broader context of Ho Chi Minh City and its neighboring localities, aligning with the Political Bureau vision for a creative urban area. Consequently, it is imperative to reassess the planning framework to address existing shortcomings and limitations and to cultivate the city distinctive characteristics.

The Minister emphasized that the consulting unit and Thu Duc City should continue to research and refine the foundational content for drafting the General Plan, ensuring alignment and consistency with national, regional, and HCMC’s general planning frameworks. Particular attention should be given to reviewing the explanatory structure to align with the planning objectives, ensuring coherence and precision across all drawings, narratives, and maps.

Moreover, it is necessary to evaluate the implementation of the plan carefully, assessing and updating data in compliance with regulations concerning current natural conditions, population distribution, and urban quality. The plan should also clearly define the urban spatial structure and the city role in connecting with HCMC and neighboring areas within the Southeast region, highlighting its position as a highly interactive, innovative urban area. In addition to submitting written feedback, the Minister requested that the consulting unit and Thu Duc City thoroughly review, research, and incorporate as many comments as possible, with specific justifications for their decisions. The draft resolution should be finalized and submitted to the Ministry of Construction for review before being presented to the Prime Minister for approval.

Expressing his appreciation to Minister Nguyễn Thanh Nghị and representatives from various ministries, sectors, and central professional associations for their valuable feedback and suggestions, HCMC Vice Chairman Bùi Xuân Cường stated that this planning is vital for both Thu Duc City and HCMC as a whole; Thu Duc City and the consulting unit will diligently review, update, and supplement the necessary data to promptly finalize the Project.