On 18th December, Construction Department of Binh Dinh Province held the 3^rd Provincial Conference on Urban Construction and Development. The conference was attended by Mr Nguyen Van Thien, Standing Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Province People's Committee, leaders of relevant bodies and agencies, representatives of People's Committees at District, City and Town levels.

According to the conference, during the last 10 years (1996-2005), urban areas of Binh Dinh Province expanded quickly, the rate of urbanisation was directly proportional to rate of economic growth. However, uneven distribution of urban areas and unbalanceable urbanisation among regions lead to unsustainable urban development and low-standard urban infrastructure on basis of national criteria. Urban construction managerial staff have been short in term of quantity and experience, etc.

The conference announced Decision of Binh Dinh Province People’s Committee on “Approval of Master Plan of Urban Development and Rural Residential Areas in Binh Dinh Province until 2020”. Accordingly, Binh Dinh will have 19 towns and cities by 2010 and 25 towns and cities by 2020. Out of the planned towns and cities, Quy Nhon is the regional primary city; Binh Dinh (An Nhon Distric), Bong Son (Hoai Nhon Distric), Phu Phong (Tay Son Distric) towns are classified as the 4th-ranked provincial urban centres; Cat Tien town (Phu Cat Distric) will be the 4th-ranked urban specialized centre; 10 other towns and districts will be ranked at the 5th urban centres; there will be 10 urban centres in sub-region. Rate of urbanisation will reach 35-36% by 2010 and 52% by 2020.

The representatives proposed some solutions for sustainable urban construction and development in the next 10 years (2006-2015). The solutions focused on making out urban construction plans, investing in urban technical infrastructure, enhancing urban management capacities and creating favourable conditions for local administrations to actively manage and develop the towns and cities.

• Reported by Viet Tho
• Translated by Hong Ha