Dialogue focuses on urban development, management policies
A dialogue on urban policies towards a new urban agenda was held on April 20 in Hanoi by the Ministry of Construction, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and UN–Habitat.
Hanoi (VNA) – TheMinistry of Construction, in collaboration with the Organisation for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Human SettlementsProgramme (UN–Habitat), held a dialogue on urban policies towards a new urbanagenda on April 20 in Hanoi. Participants shared experience andmade proposals on feasible urban development and management policies. Deputy Minister of ConstructionNguyen Dinh Toan said that his ministry is completing institutions and a systemof legal documents related to urban areas to ensure synchronous development. Italso considers building the Urban Development and Management Law and a reportevaluating Vietnam’s national urban policy. Director of UN-Habitat in VietnamNguyen Quang said that the national urban policy must balance the demand for equalland access and sustainable environmental issues and effective land use inorder to avoid binding agreements on land. According to him, Vietnam isfacing a challenge on land clearance and resettlement, land distribution andregistration, together with complicated administrative procedures. Therefore, it is necessary todefine the role and legal responsibility of local authorities to ensure thefeasibility of the policy, he said, suggesting the policy be in line with otherdevelopment policy frameworks, including those related to energy, water,transport, and infrastructure. The urban system in Vietnam hasseen positive progresses over the past 20 years. Urban areas continue to play acore role in speeding up economic structure shifting and become a motivationfor socio-economic development. Economic activities in urban areas have createdmillions of jobs for people nationwide.-VNA
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Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
