Reporter: The first Congress of the Mường Ảng commune Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term is an important political milestone. Could you briefly share the main achievements from the past term?

Tô Trọng Thiện: The 2020-2025 term was a special period, as Mường Ảng commune was established through the merger of three administrative units: Ẳng Nưa, Ẳng Cang, and Mường Ảng township. While stabilizing the organizational apparatus, we also had to implement socio-economic development tasks. The Party Committee, local authorities, armed forces, and people of all ethnic groups worked hard in unity, overcoming challenges and achieving comprehensive results.

We focused on consolidating the political system, renewing leadership methods, and strengthening Party building, particularly in cadre training, improving the quality of grassroots Party activities, expanding membership, and enhancing inspection and supervision. On socio-economic development, the commune met 15 out of 19 new rural development criteria, per capita income reached VND 47 million per year, and living standards improved significantly.

Social welfare received attention: more than 470 new houses were built with support; the poverty rate fell to 9.75%; and essential infrastructure such as schools, roads, a conference center, and village cultural houses was developed, transforming the urban landscape. Political security and social order remained stable. In short, the past term laid a solid foundation for Mường Ảng to enter a new stage of growth.

Reporter: With that foundation, what direction will the Congress set for the 2025-2030 term?

Tô Trọng Thiện: Our guiding principle is: “Enhance the leadership capacity and combat strength of the Party Committee; promote the solidarity of all ethnic groups; accelerate socio-economic development; ensure national defense and security; and build a fast-growing, sustainable Mường Ảng.”

Accordingly, we have identified six key tasks:

Firstly, strengthen Party building and rectification, ensuring a clean and strong political system; streamline the administrative apparatus for greater effectiveness; and build a team of capable, reputable cadres who dare to think and act.

Secondly, continue restructuring agriculture in tandem with new rural development; promote value-chain production; focus on coffee replanting, improving fruit quality, developing medicinal plants, and applying science and technology.

Thirdly, improve overall and detailed planning, especially in trade and tourism; diversify resources for development investment.

Fourthly, attract investment in energy, medicinal plants, trade, services, and community-based tourism linked to cultural preservation.

Fithly, improve education, healthcare, and social welfare; support disadvantaged areas and ethnic minority communities.

Sixthly, consolidate all-people national defense and the people’s security posture; maintain order and security; and meet 100% of annual military recruitment targets.

Reporter: This Congress also mentions three strategic breakthroughs. Could you elaborate on the breakthroughs the commune has chosen to create marked changes in the 2025-2030 term?

Tô Trọng Thiện: After thorough discussion and with the highest political determination, we have defined three breakthroughs:

Firstly, concentrate resources on restructuring agriculture alongside new rural development; build value-chain-linked production in coffee, fruit, and OCOP products; attract investment in agricultural processing to increase value; complete the goal of becoming a new rural commune; develop model rural villages; and promote cooperation in eco-tourism and experiential tourism to improve livelihoods.

Secondly, prioritize investment in transport and irrigation infrastructure, especially routes linking production zones and key areas, creating breakthroughs and expanding development space; develop the commune center as planned.

Thirdly, advance science, technology, and innovation; promote digital government, digital economy, and digital society; and apply technical standards to improve product quality, productivity, and competitiveness.

Reporter: Some targets are ambitious, such as raising per capita income to VND 125 million per year and reducing the multidimensional poverty rate to below 1%. How feasible are these goals?

Tô Trọng Thiện: We are neither complacent nor overly concerned. These goals are based on practical surveys, resource assessments, and feasibility evaluations. Mường Ảng has strong potential in agriculture, forestry, trade, services, and tourism. Mường Ảng coffee has already made a name in the market, and community-based tourism is gradually taking shape.

We are focusing on attracting enterprises to invest in agricultural processing, adding value, creating jobs, and raising incomes. Notably, we are committed to working with higher-level authorities to attract investment in clean energy plants, specifically, the 108 MW Mường Ảng wind power plant and the 20 MW floating solar project on Ẳng Cang reservoir. These will be major drivers for revenue growth, socio-economic development, job creation, and higher incomes.

We will also make full use of national target programs and central and provincial policies, while tapping into local resources from residents, cooperatives, and businesses. The key is for people to see the benefits and shift their mindset from dependence to proactive economic development.

Reporter: What will be the priorities in Party building in the next term?

Tô Trọng Thiện: The focus is on building a team of cadres with integrity, capacity, and reputation who dare to act for the common good; tightening discipline and order within the Party; and preventing ideological and moral decline.

The commune Party Committee aims to admit new members equal to over 5% of current membership annually; ensure 100% of Party organizations meet or exceed performance targets; promote digital transformation in inspection, supervision, and discipline enforcement; and strengthen oversight of leadership accountability, linking personal responsibility with work outcomes.

Reporter: This is the first congress under the two-tier local government model. What message do you want to send?

Tô Trọng Thiện: With the spirit of solidarity, democracy, innovation, discipline, and development, I trust the new Executive Board of the commune Party Committee will maximize its capabilities, dare to think, act, and take responsibility for the common good. The Congress will define clear, breakthrough-oriented goals and solutions to make Mường Ảng a “fairly developed commune” in the province, with ever-improving living standards and a brighter urban and rural landscape.

Reporter: Thank you very much!