The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting.

Comrade Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting.

At the meeting, the leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on the progress of drafting the Proposal for approval of the Economic Development Plan for the border areas of Son La province, for the periods 2026-2030 and 2030-2035. Accordingly, the objective of the Plan is to serve as a basis for the synchronized implementation of economic development projects, linked to ensuring national defense and border security, in accordance with the principles and orientations in Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW, dated January 24, 2025, of the Politburo (13th term) on international integration in the new situation, aiming to create a new and synchronized development in the socio-economic development of the border areas in the province, linked to the socio-economic development of the border areas of neighboring Lao provinces (Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces) and ensuring regional linkages between the northern provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The project focuses on border communes within the province, with key emphasis on: infrastructure investment, concentrating on building a transportation system connecting with neighboring Laos through border gates; irrigation and telecommunications infrastructure; developing specialized economic activities, promoting technology-based agriculture, community tourism, and border trade.

The head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment spoke at the meeting.

Representatives from various departments and agencies contributed their opinions to finalize the Project Proposal, focusing on issues such as: clarifying the integration of public investment funds and national target programs with the total estimated funding coordinated from the central government; proposing the addition of an assessment of the current state of irrigation, clean water, and agricultural and forestry transformation models to ensure maximum feasibility; supplementing the legal and practical basis for developing the project; and setting specific targets for the project, such as: ensuring social policies, improving the lives of ethnic minorities, developing infrastructure, and providing vocational training for people in border areas…

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Dang Ngoc Hau emphasized: The development of the Project is extremely necessary in the context of international integration, helping Son La to leverage its position as a gateway for trade with the provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. He also requested the Department of Foreign Affairs to closely coordinate with other departments and agencies to finalize the proposal seeking approval for submission to the Provincial Party Standing Committee. The Project must clearly define investment priorities, avoid overlapping with existing programs, and be a practical driving force to increase income for households in border areas; departments and agencies, according to their assigned functions and tasks, should contribute their opinions to finalize the Project on schedule.

Nguyen Thu