Comrade Hoang Van Nghiem, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation.

Today, in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere celebrating the Party and the Spring Festival, and welcoming the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee solemnly organized a meeting to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2026); a meeting with veteran revolutionary cadres, pre-revolution cadres, and former provincial leaders at the beginning of Spring 2026; and launched a political essay contest on protecting the ideological foundation of the Party.

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, I would like to extend my best wishes for health and happiness to Comrade Tong Thi Phong, former Member of the Political Bureau and former Standing Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; to all veteran revolutionary cadres and pre-revolution cadres; to all current and former provincial leaders; and to all comrades and their families. I wish this meeting great success.

In this solemn atmosphere, with profound emotion and boundless gratitude, the Party Committee, Government, and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province respectfully commemorate President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of the Party and the nation; expressing deep gratitude to the veteran revolutionaries, pre-revolution cadres, steadfast communist fighters, heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers, families with meritorious contributions to the revolution, and generations of cadres, Party members, and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province who have dedicated their strength, resources, courage, and intellect to building a comprehensively developed Son La province, contributing to the successful realization of the goals of building and protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

The founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3, 1930, was a glorious milestone, marking a historical turning point in the Vietnamese revolution and the beginning of a bright future for the Vietnamese nation. Over 96 years under the Party's leadership, our people have regained independence and freedom, liberated themselves from colonial and imperialist oppression, unified the country, and led the entire nation towards socialism.

Under the glorious light of the Communist Party of Vietnam; upholding the 86-year tradition of the Son La Provincial Party Committee (December 26, 1939 - December 26, 2025), under the correct and decisive leadership and guidance of the Provincial Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the efforts of Party committees, government agencies, the Fatherland Front, and the armed forces; and the support and approval of the business community and the people of all ethnic groups in the province, after 40 years of implementing the reform policy, Son La province has overcome difficulties and challenges and achieved many great results in all aspects.

The achievements in economic, cultural, social development, national defense, security, foreign relations, Party building, and strengthening the political system that the Provincial Party Committee has attained are of significant theoretical and practical importance, contributing to clarifying the correct leadership guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam in achieving the goal of national independence combined with building socialism.

Building upon the achievements of previous years, and adhering to the Party's guidelines and policies, with a focus on the important resolutions of the Politburo in various fields, the 16th Provincial Party Congress, for the 2025-2030 term, has set the goal of developing Son La province into a relatively developed province, a socio-economic center of the Northwest sub-region; a center for processing agricultural products in the northern midland and mountainous region; and a key tourism destination in the northern midland and mountainous region and the Vietnam-Laos border area.

2026 is a significant year, marking the first year of implementing the resolutions of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 16th Congress of the Son La Provincial Party Committee, and the socio-economic development plan for the 2025-2030 term. To successfully achieve the set targets and objectives, the province will focus on effectively implementing several key tasks as follows:

Firstly, thoroughly understand, implement, and effectively carry out the resolutions, directives, and conclusions of the Central Committee, the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, and the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term; and the projects, resolutions, and action programs implementing the resolutions of the Party Congresses at all levels, ensuring practicality, effectiveness, and suitability to the local conditions. Lead and direct the successful preparation and organization of the elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, ensuring democracy, legality, safety, and truly making it a festival for the entire population. Strengthen Party building and rectification, and consolidate a clean and strong political system; continue to effectively streamline the Party and political system's organizational structure for efficient and effective operation.

Secondly, we must accelerate administrative reforms, improve the investment environment, and enhance the province's competitiveness. We must focus on removing obstacles, reviewing, supplementing, and perfecting mechanisms and policies to create incentives for attracting investment and promoting socio-economic development. We must promote the application of information technology in the operations of state agencies; build a transparent, open, and equitable investment environment; and significantly improve indicators measuring the quality of administrative services to create a favorable environment for attracting investment, developing businesses, the private sector, and cooperatives in the province.

Thirdly, we must promote the development of socio-economic infrastructure in a synchronized and progressively modern manner, creating momentum for rapid and sustainable economic development. This includes focusing on accelerating the progress of the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway project, specifically the section within Son La province, and urgently completing the legal procedures to propose to the Ministry of Construction and the Prime Minister the investment in the Moc Chau - Son La - Dien Bien expressway project during the 2026-2030 period to enhance connectivity between Son La province and the Northwest provinces and Hanoi. Simultaneously, we must prioritize investment in and upgrading of the transportation system from the provincial center to the centers of communes and villages, creating favorable conditions for the people.

Fourth, focus on developing agriculture towards clean agriculture, organic agriculture, and sustainable agriculture, linked with the application of high technology, digital transformation, and deep processing industries, in order to increase the added value of agricultural products; proactively build brands, strengthen linkages, and expand domestic and international markets. Develop raw material areas for processing plants in the province, forming closely linked chains between raw material areas, processing, and product consumption.

Fifth, comprehensively develop the socio-cultural sector; build a healthy cultural environment; promote the values ​​and cultural identity of the ethnic groups in Son La and the Northwest region; better care for the material and spiritual lives of the people; and ensure social security. Pay attention to strongly developing high-quality human resources; improve the quality of comprehensive education and disease prevention, examination, and treatment for the people.

Sixth, focus investment and development on the energy industry, especially renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, biomass power, and hydropower. Develop industry in a sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly manner. Effectively implement solutions for promoting trade, boosting the development of domestic and international markets for products; promote and connect product consumption on major e-commerce platforms; and strongly develop e-commerce and logistics.

Seventh, focus on developing tourism and services, creating unique tourism products linked to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of ethnic groups; striving to make tourism a truly leading economic sector by 2030. This includes concentrating on attracting investment to the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, aiming to make Moc Chau one of the leading tourist areas in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; developing the Son La hydroelectric reservoir into a national tourist area; strengthening tourism promotion and marketing efforts in a focused and targeted manner, connecting tourism development with the Northwest provinces and the provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Eighth, effectively ensure national defense and security; firmly protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Identify national defense and security as a crucial and ongoing task for the entire political system and the whole population, with the armed forces as the core; effectively combat crime, drug trafficking, violations of the law, and social evils. Strengthen foreign relations, focusing on consolidating the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Son La province and the provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and comprehensively developed Vietnam-Laos border.

Inheriting and promoting the glorious traditions of the Communist Party of Vietnam, we are confident that the Party committees, government, military, and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province will continue to uphold revolutionary traditions, self-reliance, and self-strength; strengthen the building of a clean and strong Party and political system; promote the potential, advantages, unity, and cultural identity of all ethnic groups; continue to innovate, promote the development of science, technology, and digital transformation; and successfully achieve the goals and tasks for 2026 and beyond, so that Son La, together with the whole country, can enter a new era – an era of prosperous, thriving, civilized, and happy development.