Attending the Conference were representatives of relevant ministries, departments and branches who are members of the Appraisal Council, experts, reviewers and representatives of leaders of relevant units under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. On the side of Son La province, there were comrade Nguyen Huu Dong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; comrade Lo Minh Hung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrade Nguyen Thai Hung - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; comrade Le Hong Minh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and comrades leaders of the Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee; leaders of departments and branches of Son La province.

Delegates attending the Conference on reviewing Son La Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050

Son La is a mountainous border province, belonging to the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, bordering 06 northern provinces of Vietnam and the Lao PDR, the North borders Lai Chau and Yen Bai, the South borders Thanh Hoa and Laos, the East borders Hoa Binh and Phu Tho, the West borders Dien Bien. Strategic geo-economic and political position of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, the whole country and internationally; located in the center of the Northwest sub-region, has advantages in trade with the northeastern provinces of Laos to become an important economic, cultural, political and foreign affairs center of the Northwest sub-region.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong highly appreciated the leadership and direction of Son La province in the process of implementing and completing the provincial planning; emphasizing that planning plays a very important role in the development of the country in general and the locality in particular, helping us have a path, orientation for development with new thinking, new vision, new approach, new space, creating new momentum for development. Planning must exploit the maximum potential and advantages of the province; limit and overcome difficulties and challenges, thereby promoting the rapid and sustainable socio-economic development of the province.

The Deputy Minister requested that Council members and experts give responsible opinions and focus on the rationality and conformity with legal regulations on planning; Evaluate the planning method and content of the Son La Provincial Planning, especially the application of the integrated planning method on geospatial data; Evaluate the existing problems and limitations that need to be resolved.

Comrade Tran Quoc Phuong - Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Vice Chairman of the Appraisal Council delivered a speech to deploy the content of the Conference.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee summarized the Planning of Son La province for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, stating that, with the goal of determining the development vision in the medium and long term, in order to effectively promote the potentials and advantages of the province, as a scientific and practical basis for organizing the economic and social territorial space and building 5-year and annual development plans, meeting the general development requirements of the whole country and building Son La into a green, fast and sustainable developing province on all 4 pillars: Economic development - Cultural development - Environmental protection - Ensuring national defense and security. Accordingly, Son La province is divided into 4 inter-district regions including: (1) Urban area and National Highway 6, (2) Moc Chau Plateau and vicinity, (3) Da River basin and reservoir area and (4) Border highland area. Son La Provincial Planning has built development scenarios, breakthroughs, development directions for important sectors and fields, urban and rural planning, functional areas, infrastructure, etc.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province reported briefly on the Provincial Planning and the SEA report.

According to the assessment of the Appraisal Council, the planning dossier of Son La province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2025, basically meets the requirements prescribed by the law on planning. However, it is necessary to review and update the planning bases, supplement data, keep data, and content related to natural conditions, assess and supplement bottlenecks related to infrastructure development, clarify the regional development plan, urban development, transport network development, characteristics, advantages, and focus on the absolute advantages of Son La province.

Comrade Dinh Trong Thang - Director of Planning Management Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment approved the draft Provincial Planning Appraisal Report.

The conference received comments from experts, discussion from members of the Appraisal Council and opinions from ministries, departments and branches.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong – Reviewer

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh – Reviewer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Trung Luong – Reviewer

Ministry of Defense Leadership

Leaders of Ministry of Industry and Trade

Leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

After comments, evaluations and discussions, the Appraisal Council unanimously approved the content of the Son La Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, specifically: (1) Regarding the content of the Provincial Planning, the number of votes in favor of approval was 27/27 votes, reaching 100%, with the condition of being revised, supplemented and completed; (2) Regarding the content of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Provincial Planning, the number of votes in favor of approval was 27/27 votes, reaching 100%, with the condition of being revised, supplemented and completed; (3) Regarding the draft appraisal report of the Provincial Planning, the number of votes in favor of approval was 27/27 votes, reaching 100%, with the condition of being revised, supplemented and completed.

On behalf of the People's Committee of Son La province, comrade Le Hong Minh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province received the opinions of the Ministries, departments, branches, and members of the Appraisal Council, thereby completing the dossier of the Son La Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 in accordance with the provisions of law and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

Comrade Le Hong Minh - Vice Chairman of Son La Provincial People's Committee spoke to receive comments from participants.