It has also decided to raise the annual target for income per capita from VND32 million (US$1,778) to between VND36.5-37.5 million (US$2,028-2,083).

The two targets were approved at the Council’s year-end meeting which opened on December 8. The deputies also set some other important targets for the city’s economy, including the generation of 135,000 new jobs and the reduction of poor households by 1.6 percent.

Pham Quang Nghi, secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee, said following last year’s decision to expand the city, things had gone smoothly, including preparations for the 1,000^th founding anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010.

“To achieve a GDP growth of 10 percent next year and an increase of 5 percent in budget collection, the city must overcome difficulties and create a good environment to attract investors,” he said.

He said celebrating the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi will be an important event for the capital city and the country as a whole.

The four-day meeting of the Hanoi City People’s Council will last until December 11.