Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress: Taking people's happiness as a measure

Ho Chi Minh City is always expected to create strong development in the new era - Photo: VAN TRUNG

All goals and tasks set out at the 1st Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, term 2025 - 2030, are aimed at the ultimate goal of building Ho Chi Minh City to develop sustainably, reach regional and world levels, and constantly improve the quality of life and happiness of the people.

Today (October 14), after the opening ceremony, delegates attending the Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress will listen to reports and in the afternoon of the same day will discuss the draft political report.

The topic of this report focuses on in-depth analysis, careful consideration and clear orientation of tasks and solutions to build a clean and strong Party organization and political system; promote the strength of national solidarity; make breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation and the private economy ; strengthen national defense, security, foreign affairs and international integration; mobilize and effectively use all resources so that Ho Chi Minh City can pioneer with the whole country in the new era.

Resolutely pursuing the goal of comprehensive human development, closely combining economic growth with social progress and equity; building the city into a livable place, where every citizen is guaranteed development opportunities, fully cared for in terms of health, education, living environment and safety, and no one is left behind in the development process.

Draft political report of the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress

Always put people at the center

What makes this draft political report different is the mindset of "taking people's happiness as a measure", linking social security, health, and cultural goals with economic and technological development ambitions, not simply growth parameters.

The draft report affirms the people's role as the subject and central position in all guidelines, policies and strategies of the Party and the City Government, taking people's happiness and satisfaction as a measure of the effectiveness of the political system. This is an important change in the development perspective, expressed throughout the document.

In reality, it is necessary to recognize that the new scale of Ho Chi Minh City after the merger, with a total area, population and resources larger than before, has both opened up rare opportunities and posed very real challenges.

The document itself does not hesitate to acknowledge structural "bottlenecks" such as infrastructure pressure, pollution, governance inadequacies, and the gap between rich and poor. Along with that, it clearly states the need to restructure development space, transform the growth model, and streamline the apparatus to effectively manage a megacity.

These perceptions are not mere formal promises but are the basis for setting specific targets, goals and action roadmaps.

From an economic perspective, the draft sets a great ambition when setting a target of average GRDP growth of 10 - 11%/year, and by 2030, GRDP per capita will reach about 14,000 - 15,000 USD. At the same time, increase the proportion of digital economy, raise investment in R&D and digital transformation to a level commensurate with the expectation of a creative city. Ho Chi Minh City will mobilize all resources, effectively exploit the potential, advantages, strategic position and effectiveness of science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation to promote rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

Ho Chi Minh City clearly recognizes its historical role and mission.

The draft report's conclusion clearly states that Ho Chi Minh City recognizes its historical role and mission in the new era of development, with deep pride in the heroic, dynamic, creative tradition and the honor of the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.

Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee is determined to overcome limitations and weaknesses, grasp opportunities, overcome challenges, strive to fulfill the highest goals and tasks set by the City Party Congress, contribute to the successful implementation of the 14th Party Congress resolution, build Ho Chi Minh City to develop sustainably, reach regional and world levels, and continuously improve the quality of life and happiness of the people.

However, there is a big gap between vision and implementation. Many of the goals set out in the document require large resources, both in terms of capital, high-quality human resources, and management to mobilize and allocate effectively.

Therefore, the document clearly states that it is necessary to strongly innovate institutions, create special and outstanding mechanisms and policies for education and training development, in order to develop high-quality human resources, attract talents through research tasks and breakthrough programs of the city. It emphasizes the fields of research, technology application, digital transformation, international finance, logistics, renewable energy...

Along with that, Ho Chi Minh City allows the merger and dissolution of ineffective facilities, eliminates formal centers, and ensures streamlined management. Invests in laboratories, excellent research centers, and cutting-edge training facilities; innovates programs according to international standards, integrates artificial intelligence (AI) data analysis, and startups. Innovates admissions based on capacity, and unifies input standards by industry. Builds the city into a center for training human resources in the ASEAN region with quality approaching international standards.

Graphics: VO TAN

Promote decentralization and delegation of power

Another important solution is that Ho Chi Minh City will promote decentralization and authorization along with increased inspection and supervision. Ensure full and comprehensive autonomy for higher education and vocational training institutions along with accountability. Expand financial support policies and preferential credit for learners; build mechanisms and policies to strongly encourage organizations and businesses to invest in education, and promote public-private partnerships.

However, success is not measured by growth rates or large infrastructure projects alone. Real success comes when people clearly feel the quality of life: smooth roads, cleaner air, clean water, competent hospitals, standard schools, and most importantly, a responsive, transparent and accountable government.

The draft political report has paved the way for that with a commitment to measure people's happiness and satisfaction; the challenge remains to translate the commitment into day-to-day operational tools.

This includes a commitment that Ho Chi Minh City will invest in modernizing the administrative enforcement system; improving state governance capacity based on digital technology and real-time digital data. Strive to complete the construction of digital government and e-government of the city before 2030, focusing on building a typical, creative, transparent, and effective digital government that can both handle management and administration well and lead development and innovation.

"Ho Chi Minh City will establish a smart, modern, and comprehensive management system, strongly applying digital transformation in all areas of state management, socio-economic management, infrastructure management, public services, and improving capacity to serve people and businesses," the draft report stated.

Digital transformation is the central driving force

The figures show that Ho Chi Minh City identifies science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as the central driving force for the next leap forward - not just developing physical infrastructure but also creating a foundation for knowledge production and high-quality services. If realized, this scenario will fundamentally change the economic structure of the region, shifting from relying heavily on cheap labor to a model with higher technology content and added value.

Towards a civilized and modern urban area

Towards the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding (2030), Ho Chi Minh City will become a civilized, modern city, a center of innovation, dynamism, integration, leading the industrialization and modernization of the country, with a prominent position in Southeast Asia, in the group of 100 global cities, worth living and having an innovation ecosystem in the world, belonging to the high-income group. Vision to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country (2045) to be in the group of 100 best cities in the world, worthy of the international megacity of Southeast Asia, an economic, financial, tourism, service, education, and healthcare center of Asia, an attractive global destination, with distinctive and sustainable economic, cultural, and social development, high quality of life, and deep international integration.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dai-hoi-dang-bo-tp-hcm-lay-hanh-phuc-cua-nhan-dan-lam-thuoc-do-20251013235012605.htm