The meeting was chaired by the following leaders: Trần Quốc Cường, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Steering Committee; Mùa A Sơn, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee; Lê Thành Đô, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, and Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee; Lò Văn Phương, Member of the provincial Standing Board, Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee.

At the meeting, delegates reviewed the implementation of Resolution No.57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthrough developments in S&T, innovation, and digital transformation in the province. This includes the construction and improvement of 16 shared industry databases. The development of research centers, testing facilities, and key laboratories is being actively implemented.

Regarding digital infrastructure, 100% of agencies in the province are connected to specialized data transmission networks and cloud computing-based data centers. Additionally, 100% of agencies use document management platforms, 98% of documents are signed digitally, 100% of officials have e-mail accounts, and 75% of administrative procedures are processed online in 2024. The rate of digitized documents at provincial/district levels exceeds 90%, and at the commune level, it is over 80%.

The province has achieved the goal of Resolution 57 ahead of schedule, with 100% of leaders, officials, and public employees from provincial to commune levels processing work documents in a networked environment and using digital signatures (the target date of Resolution 57 is June 30, 2025). In telecommunications infrastructure, the province currently has 1,097 BTS stations (1,052 4G stations, 38 5G stations), 550,000 mobile subscribers (85 per 100 people), 740 fiber optic lines, and 75,000 broadband internet subscribers (55% of households).

During the meeting, the Steering Committee approved the list of urgent S&T tasks for 2025 according to Resolution No.57-NQ/TW of the Politburo. These tasks include implementing the spirit of Resolution No.57-NQ/TW, with 11 S&T topics, projects, and 25 breakthrough S&T tasks for 2025. The committee also approved the assignment of tasks to members of the Steering Committee.

During the discussion, delegates discussed the development of two main economic pillars of the province: Agriculture-forestry and tourism. They also added some breakthrough S&T tasks in areas such as agriculture-environment, education, and healthcare. Additionally, delegates discussed the resources required for implementing these tasks and proposals for attracting high-quality human resources to the province. They also considered the role of socializing and mobilizing resources to enhance the feasibility of implementing S&T tasks and projects. Furthermore, delegates provided feedback on the task assignments for Steering Committee members.

Speaking at the meeting, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Trần Quốc Cường, Chairman of the Steering Committee, emphasized the role of S&T, innovation, and digital transformation in the province's development in the next phase. He highly appreciated the contributions of the committee members and requested the Steering Committee to adopt these suggestions to shape its work. He also urged the members to transition from a passive to an active state to realize the urgency of developing S&T, innovation, and digital transformation.

Secretary Trần Quốc Cường recommended that the action program be closely aligned with the local situation to ensure its feasibility. The members of the Steering Committee should resolutely implement the tasks related to S&T development, innovation, and digital transformation, with determination to change Điện Biên’s position and ensure it no longer remains on the list of poor provinces in the country.

To achieve this, Trần Quốc Cường suggested that the Steering Committee should identify key tasks that must be carried out immediately, such as: assessing the province’s resources; building industrial zones and technologies linked to innovation; preserving and promoting the ethnic cultures to develop tourism; digitizing the entire historical battlefield of Điện Biên Phủ; promoting key projects; and ensuring national defense and social order. He emphasized the importance of maximizing human resource potential by utilizing the officials and workers after restructuring the administrative system and creating the best conditions for investors to boost socio-economic development.