Son La province represented Vietnam in the best booth competition at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPo 2023). Photo: PV

In implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Son La province has paid close attention to foreign affairs and international integration. To date, the province has established friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation with 9 provinces of Laos; cooperative relations with 20 diplomatic representative offices in Vietnam; and 31 foreign non-governmental organizations have provided funding to Son La province.

In order to raise awareness, responsibility, create consensus and strong determination among all levels and sectors regarding international integration in the new situation, and to concretize the viewpoints, objectives, tasks and solutions set forth in Government Resolution No. 153/NQ-CP and the Provincial Party Committee's Standing Committee Plan No. 311-KH/TU on implementing the Politburo's Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 on international integration in the new situation, on June 26, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 152/KH-UBND, with key tasks and main solutions; clearly assigning tasks to localities and units, ensuring effective implementation.

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee directed departments, agencies, and localities to focus on leading and directing the promotion of propaganda, raising awareness, and innovating thinking and actions regarding international integration in the new situation. They were also instructed to improve the quality of research and forecasting, and to invest adequate human resources and financial resources to proactively seize opportunities arising from international integration; to proactively prevent and effectively respond to negative impacts in the process of international integration, especially in the fields of trade and investment; and to enhance vigilance, proactively prevent, and promptly detect and effectively combat the actions of hostile forces exploiting the trend of international integration to carry out subversive activities through investment and trade cooperation.

Continue to build and strictly and effectively implement plans and action programs to implement free trade agreements (FTAs) in the province for the period 2025-2030, aiming to seek, expand, and diversify export markets, and better and more effectively utilize opportunities from free trade agreements, especially new-generation free trade agreements. Support businesses in building brands for the province's distinctive products. Organize participation in domestic events, trade fairs, and exhibitions. Research and develop potential markets in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), Japan, South Korea, countries in the Middle East, the United States, and the European Union (EU)...

Actively promote the digital economy, green economy, and circular economy. Intensify efforts to gradually integrate tourism and cultural products into the international market; combine product advantages to build a brand for Son La tourism, enhance the added value of products, and accelerate the process of international integration.

We prioritize developing traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with localities in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, focusing on deepening and making it more practical, thereby creating a solid foundation for effective and sustainable cooperation between the two sides.

Promote and innovate efforts to attract foreign investment, improving the efficiency of managing and utilizing investment capital. Protect the legitimate interests of businesses and consumers in international economic, trade, and investment disputes. Strengthen people-to-people diplomacy; promote international cooperation in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; build friendly cooperative relationships, ensuring security and political stability for the country and the province, while exchanging experiences and learning from each other.

Emphasis should be placed on training and developing the staff working in foreign affairs and international integration in departments, agencies, localities, units, and enterprises, enhancing their political acumen, knowledge, and skills in economic diplomacy, international law, and international economic integration.