Provincial Party Secretary Trần Tiến Dũng, along with comrades from the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee, and leaders of provincial departments and sectors, worked with the delegation.

Opening the working session, the Minister of Finance emphasized: The goal set for Điện Biên in 2025 is to achieve a GRDP growth of 7.5%, and double-digit growth in the following years from 2026 to 2030. The Government always accompanies localities regarding mechanisms and policies, removing bottlenecks, and providing maximum support for localities to achieve their set targets. On that basis, the working session aimed to analyze, evaluate, and identify the causes of the difficulties and obstacles that Điện Biên is facing, thereby proposing solutions to help the province overcome these challenges.

Reporting to the Minister on the socio-economic development situation, despite achieving many positive results, the province’s GRDP growth in the first 9 months of the year (at constant prices) was estimated at 6.76%, lower than the set scenario. Attracting non-state budget investment capital has not seen much improvement or breakthrough, lacking large projects; most non-state budget investment projects are progressing slower than the schedule committed by investors.

Regarding the implementation of the public investment plan, the province had assigned and detailed the allocation of the 2025 state budget investment plan, reaching 97.54% of the assigned plan by the end of September 30. The disbursement rate only reached 45.27% of the plan, higher than the same period in 2024, but still not meeting the target.

Regarding the implementation of the two-level local government model, there is still a lack of resources for digitalization and equipment; the workload has increased sharply; there are obstacles in implementing personnel policies; and there is a shortage of headquarters, offices, and official residences.

With the difficulties and obstacles mentioned, provincial Party Secretary Trần Tiến Dũng proposed and recommended several points to the working delegation: Calculate the expansion and increase of levels and quotas for cross-border trade for border residents, contributing to socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security; create conditions during the term to promote and quickly complete expressway routes connecting traffic with large urban centers and border crossings/openings. Additionally, promoting investment in non-state budget projects still faces many difficulties; it is hoped that the Government will pay attention and prioritize investment promotion for remote provinces facing many difficulties like Điện Biên. Điện Biên commits to maximizing the reduction of administrative procedures, creating open mechanisms, and “rolling out the red carpet” to invite investors.

Along with that, Điện Biên requested the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Prime Minister for early allocation of capital from the 2025 central budget reserve for two projects: The project for conservation and restoration of the Điện Biên Phủ Stronghold complex; and the project for rural electricity supply from the national grid. Supplement from the 2025 central budget reserve fund for the province to overcome the consequences of natural disasters in the road sector; funding for digitizing archival documents and ensuring terminal equipment for record and document work; include the investment project for constructing the inter-regional irrigation system of Điện Biên province in the medium-term public investment plan for 2026 - 2030 and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the project’s loan proposal (ODA); review and propose amendments to Decree No.118/2025/NĐ-CP towards adding regulations on criteria for establishing commune-level Public Administration Service Centers.

Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng and members of the working delegation clarified and responded to the province’s recommendations and proposals. The Minister requested Điện Biên to thoroughly grasp the Government’s policies, adhere closely to local realities, and focus leadership on directing the synchronous and effective implementation of tasks. Emphasis should be placed on effectively implementing the two-level government model, investing in and completing facilities and equipment for the 45 communes and wards, especially the public administration service centers; reviewing and arranging commune officials to ensure their capacity matches the assigned tasks, and strengthening professional training for commune officials. Completing infrastructure, especially inter-regional transport connectivity infrastructure, and developing border gate and industrial cluster infrastructure are also crucial.

At the same time, administrative reform must continue to improve the investment and business environment and the province’s competitiveness to attract domestic and foreign investors, accelerating the progress of committed projects. Close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is needed to implement the water supply system project serving the restructuring of the agricultural sector, to develop key agricultural products linked with brand building and value chain creation, and to form specialized cultivation areas.

The Minister of Finance praised Điện Biên as a leading province in the country in building inter-level boarding schools in border communes. The Prime Minister has allocated VND 474.05 billion to Điện Biên from the increased central budget revenue in 2024 to build schools for border communes in 2025. The Ministry of Finance requested the province to pay attention and direct the early completion of investment procedures and swift commencement of construction.

Prior to the meeting, the working delegation conducted a field survey of the two-tier local government model at the Thanh Nưa commune People’s Committee.