Son La gradually integrates with APEC

Proud to be a province of Vietnam - a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), Son La province has been taking advantage of the great opportunities that APEC brings to Vietnam to aim at the goal of "striving to turn Son La province into a growth pole, an important nucleus of the midland and mountainous region of the North by 2030".

Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Sơn La Hoàng Quốc Khánh.

Chairman of Son La Provincial People's Committee Hoang Quoc Khanh.

It is a mountainous province , 300 km from Hanoi, with a border of 274.065 km adjacent to two provinces: Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR; natural area of 14,109.83 ^km2 , population of over 1.3 million people, with 12 ethnic groups, 11 districts and 1 city of the province.

Son La province has a cool climate, fertile land, natural and cultural diversity suitable for developing a rich agricultural and forestry production with high quality and developing attractive eco-tourism and culture. In particular, Moc Chau plateau with an altitude of 1,050m above sea level, in 2023 received the double award "Asia and Vietnam's Leading Natural Destination" and is the second consecutive time to be honored by WTA in these two categories.

In addition, there is the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area with a landscape likened to "Ha Long Bay on the mountain"; some other areas have natural landscapes and cool climates (average 18 ^o C - 21 ^o C) such as: Ta Xua - Bac Yen, Co Ma - Thuan Chau, Ngoc Chien - Muong La... These are also tourist destinations with great potential for development.

Four important goals

APEC has had a strong impact, helping Son La province achieve many important socio-economic achievements and is moving towards further goals. Specifically:

Firstly, the goal is to make tourism truly a key economic sector, creating a driving force to promote the development of other sectors and fields, based on the main driving force being the development of Moc Chau national tourist area associated with the Son La - Hoa Binh highway project and the tourism and trade route between Son La province and Hua Phan province in particular and the northern provinces of Laos in general through the international border gate pair Long Sap (Moc Chau) - Pa Hang (Hua Phan, Laos) towards Thailand and Myanmar. Based on preserving and promoting cultural values imbued with national identity with the orientation of developing cultural tourism products with strengths and differences of Son La - Northwest tourism.

Second, build a smart agriculture applying high technology, strictly implement the process of granting growing area codes, traceability, and ensure products meet food hygiene and safety standards for domestic consumption and export.

Son La is the second largest fruit growing area in the country with an area of over 83,000 hectares (output of over 450,000 tons) . The whole province currently has 583 agricultural cooperatives participating in association, forming commodity chains from production to processing and consumption of products. Economic groups, companies, and domestic and foreign enterprises have invested in building many agricultural processing factories with modern technology (the whole province has 17 factories, 543 processing facilities) and produced many branded products in the international market.

Up to now, the province has exported and introduced 17 agricultural products to the markets of 21 countries and territories, including markets such as the US, Australia, and European countries. In particular, there are 02 products protected in Europe and Thailand. The value of exported goods in 2023 is estimated at 185.6 million USD.

Một góc Sơn La. (Nguồn: Báo Dân tộc và Phát triển)

A corner of Son La. (Source: Ethnic and Development Newspaper)

Third, complete infrastructure. Determined to complete key projects: Moc Chau district project to become a town by 2025; Moc Chau national tourist area project, Long Sap (Moc Chau) - Pa Hang international border gate (Hua Phan, Laos); Hoa Binh - Hanoi regional road project and Son La expressway are expected to strongly promote socio-economic development and trade between Son La and the delta provinces, Hanoi, Lao People's Democratic Republic, towards Thailand and Myanmar.

Fourth, strengthen state management in all areas to maximize potential and strengths; mobilize all resources to develop modern infrastructure; promote administrative reform; prevent corruption; build a government apparatus, political system, and a team of civil servants and public employees to serve the people, while exploiting resources effectively; focus on environmental protection; adapt to climate change; prevent natural disasters and epidemics; preserve and promote the fine cultural values of Son La province and the Northwest region; ensure social security; maintain national defense and security; build a peaceful and developed Vietnam-Laos border.

Integration efforts

To overcome challenges and steadily integrate with APEC economies, Son La is determined to: Maintain and promote growth; strongly reform administrative procedures; promote trade, investment and export; promote economic and technical cooperation; effectively implement national programs; promote APEC propaganda throughout the political system to improve knowledge about international economic integration, trade, investment and market economy; learn from the successes of APEC members to apply more effectively to the practice of Son La province.

At the same time, attract and effectively use capital sources: FDI, ODA, NGOs...; perfect the market economy institution according to the Party's policy: Laws, Resolutions of the National Assembly; Directives, Resolutions of the Government. Son La province continues to implement Directives, Resolutions, Action Programs, Economic and Social Development Plans...

In addition, continue to strengthen the role of state management of the local economy according to market rules, international practices, principles and standards; orient and support people and businesses through strong reforms, ensuring that the markets: labor, finance, currency, consumer goods and services, science and technology operate according to market rules, fairly, transparently, minimizing trade and service barriers, helping goods and services to be competitive in the market.

With its achievements and strong vitality, APEC will certainly always be the most important region with the most dynamic and promising economy in the world. With the importance and future development of APEC, Son La province always wishes and is striving to integrate and make significant contributions to the common goals of APEC, and also has high expectations for the messages from the APEC Summit 2023.

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