Urban population to rise by one million each year
Ha Noi, May 23 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's urban population is estimated to annually increase by one million from now until 2020, according to the Construction Ministry.
Infrastructure development in urban centres of Viet Nam annually needs between VND 3,000 and 5,000 billion, the Ministry added at the recent Viet Nam Urban Forum on May 21.
The forum, the first of its kind held in Viet Nam so far, was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Swiss Development Authority.
The country now has 650 urban centres which accomodate about 18 million people. These urban centres include four central cities, 82 provincial cities and townships, and 564 towns. They cover 207,000 ha, accounting for 0.6 percent of the country's natural land.
The fast urbanisation process accompanies many urgent problems, i.e. poverty, insufficient state management, environmental protection, and the shortage of basic urban services such as safe water supply, environmental hygiene, and waste treatment.
Under the strategy to develop Viet Nam's urban systems, the urban population is predicted to rise to 46 million people by 2020, accounting for 45 percent of the country's population.
Besides, the six central cities (Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hue), there will be urban centres in all 61 provinces.
Additionally, 25 existing townships will be expanded.--VNA
