The National Assembly's Standing Committee has used new powers for the first time to create a new city and two new towns, plus one new district. All were previously parts of cities.

Most deputies agreed on the necessity to carefully review the criteria on making changes to administrative units so that the changes would conform to modern development principles.

The upgrades were made under powers given to the committee in line with Clause 8, Article 74, of the 2013 constitution.

The new changes were approved by the committee yesterday in the capital city.

Authorised by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thai Binh  presented four proposals to establish Dong Trieu town in the northern coal mining province of Quang Ninh; Dien Ban town in the central province of Quang Nam; Bac Can city in the northern province and Bac Kan; and the new district of Ia H'Drai in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

Most deputies agreed on the necessity to carefully review the criteria on making changes to administrative units so that the changes would conform to modern development principles.

This set of criteria was developed in the 1980s but the empowerment had been given to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Dong Trieu town has a total area of about 40,000ha and a population of 173,141 people. The town has six wards and 15 communes.

Dien Ban town has about 21.8ha, 230,000 people, seven wards and 13 communes.

Bac Kan City has an area of 13,700ha with a population of 56,800 people living in six wards and two communes.

Ia H'Drai district has an area of more than 98,000 ha and 11,644 people living in three communes.

VNS