Yen Bai, Lao Cai cooperate for development

Yen Bai and Lao Cai are two mountainous provinces in the Northwest with many similarities in natural conditions, socio-economic conditions and revolutionary historical traditions; they are developing provinces with many potentials and advantages with diverse cultures and strong identities. From those important foundations and premises, during the renovation period, especially after separation, the two provinces of Yen Bai and Lao Cai have had innovative, breakthrough and creative thinking suitable to the reality of each locality.

Leaders of Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces signed documents at the Conference to evaluate cooperation results between the two provinces, February 18, 2023

The cooperation agreement between Lao Cai and Yen Bai was first signed on February 26, 2006. The two provinces have demonstrated a cooperative relationship of friendship, solidarity, exchange, mutual learning, being reliable partners, coordinating to organize many cooperation activities in various fields, strengthening cooperation in all fields to accompany and support each other for mutual development.

Economic development cooperation

First of all, we must mention the cooperation activities in the field of economic development. Based on the similarities, identifying agriculture and forestry as an important pillar of the economy, the two provinces of Yen Bai - Lao Cai have made the most of their potential and advantages, and have many cooperation activities in agricultural and forestry development; implementing many solutions so that agriculture and forestry continue to develop in both scale and production level, maintaining growth at a fairly high level. Both provinces are in the Top localities with the highest forest coverage rate in the country.

For many consecutive years, Yen Bai's agricultural growth rate has always been among the highest in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region and the whole country. Yen Bai has formed specialized agricultural areas and has 10 specialty and organic products (such as tea, cinnamon, hawthorn, sticky rice, etc.); built nearly 300 OCOP products meeting 3-star standards or higher (of which 25 products have reached 4 stars).

In recent years, Lao Cai agriculture has shifted strongly towards commodity production; the internal sector structure has shifted positively towards increasing the proportion of livestock and reducing the proportion of crop cultivation; commodity production areas have been formed and expanded.

Concentrate, produce according to VietGAP, organic, food safety standards; protect and effectively exploit forest resources, develop large timber trees, multi-purpose trees associated with processing, improve economic efficiency of forests and hills.

The two provinces have promoted cooperation in agricultural development, increased exchanges and shared experiences in raw material areas (cinnamon, fruit trees, etc.); in seed production and aquaculture development; in management, exploitation and protection of aquatic resources, and protection of water resources. Some Lao Cai enterprises have invested in developing cage fish farming on Thac Ba Lake and cold-water fish farming in Van Yen District. There has always been good coordination between the two provinces in connecting information, promoting trade, consuming agricultural products and connecting markets.

In particular, the agricultural sectors of the two provinces signed a Regulation on coordination in forest management, forest protection, forest product management and forest fire prevention and fighting in border areas.

Along with that is cooperation in industrial development, trade, services, investment attraction... The two provinces regularly coordinate, exchange information and experience in administrative reform, support and promotion of trade investment and tourism.

Every year, Lao Cai supports businesses of Yen Bai province to participate in the fairs in Hekou, Kunming and some localities of China; supports providing information on product consumption markets...

The two provinces have paid attention to the planning and development of transport and urban infrastructure in a synchronous manner. In particular, the planning of the 1,435 mm gauge high-speed railway route Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong (passing through Yen Bai) and the dual-gauge railway connection between Lao Cai station (Vietnam) and Hekou Bei station (China) has been approved by the Prime Minister, opening up a development future for both localities.

Cooperation in building transport infrastructure connecting Lao Cai - Yen Bai and connecting regions has achieved many results. Phase 1 of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway has been completed; the two provinces are coordinating to promote the implementation of phase 2 of the project. Coordinate to upgrade the inland waterway route Hanoi - Viet Tri - Yen Bai - Lao Cai; upgrade National Highway 70. In addition, coordinate to deploy investment in building inter-district routes bordering the two provinces to serve the common socio-economic development in the region.

The Standing Committees of the Provincial Party Committees of Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces held a conference to evaluate the results of cooperation between the two localities since the beginning of the term, and agreed on a plan to arrange and merge provincial-level administrative units, April 9, 2025.

Coordinate cultural, social and tourism development

The cultural and social fields recorded many positive marks in coordination work.

Continuing the success of the tourism cooperation between the three provinces of Phu Tho - Yen Bai - Lao Cai, the two provinces regularly exchange experiences, support the introduction of potentials, tourism products and connect to build new tours and routes, inter-regional tourism, have been maximizing the potential and advantages, "turning heritage into assets" to serve the goal of socio-economic development and building a unique tourism brand; together build a cooperation group to inform and promote tourism development cooperation activities between Ho Chi Minh City and 8 extended Northwestern provinces.

The cultural and social sectors of the two provinces also have many effective coordination activities in the fields of health, education, training, poverty reduction, social security, regularly visiting, encouraging, helping, and supporting each other in times of difficulty, natural disasters, and misfortunes.

Cooperation in the field of national defense and security is focused on; regularly doing a good job of exchanging information, grasping the political security situation; ensuring security and order in border areas; coordinating well in the fight against crimes and law violations, contributing to maintaining national defense and security, social order and safety, for a peaceful life for the people...

In particular, Yen Bai and Lao Cai maintain annual working exchanges between the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, leaders of departments, branches, sectors, levels and localities of the two sides. Create conditions for Party Committees and political organizations to exchange experiences in consolidating, perfecting, improving leadership capacity, directing and operating efficiency of Party committees and authorities. Share and learn valuable experiences in leadership, directing, operating and organizing the implementation of political tasks of each locality, contributing to strengthening solidarity and cohesion, thereby having many innovations and creativity in performing tasks.

Unite, step firmly into the new era

A new era of development has officially opened, promising many opportunities for more comprehensive and sustainable development thanks to the harmonious combination of potentials and strengths of both localities. Accordingly, with a strategic geographical location, being a gateway for trade with China through Lao Cai international border gate, an increasingly complete transportation system, railways, inter-provincial routes... will have more favorable conditions to attract investment, develop the regional economy and reach out to the region and the world. The connection between the potential of industry, minerals, logistics services of Lao Cai with the advantages of agriculture - forestry and eco-tourism, community of Yen Bai will create a strong complementarity, contributing to promoting economic restructuring towards modernity, greenness, and sustainability. The cultural exchange of ethnic minorities and long-standing revolutionary traditions will be a solid foundation to multiply endogenous strength, promote the development of socio-cultural and tourism fields, and improve the material and spiritual life and happiness index of the people.

Mr. Tran Huy Tuan, Secretary of Yen Bai Provincial Party Committee affirmed: “The two provinces of Yen Bai - Lao Cai are excited and proud to have once shared the same roof of Hoang Lien Son. Today, we continue to promote the strength of solidarity, affection, and attachment, together develop, expand and elevate our level, to strive to become the economic, cultural and tourism center of the Northern midland and mountainous region, a bright spot in cooperation in border development and international integration, so that the people of all ethnic groups in the area can have an increasingly prosperous, developed and happier life, realizing the advice of President Ho Chi Minh when he visited Yen Bai and Lao Cai in September 1958”.

A new journey is opening with many aspirations and a bright future. With good traditional sentiments, with pride, faith and will, the two provinces of Yen Bai - Lao Cai are ready to join the whole country in entering a new era, an era of the Vietnamese people's rise; together striving to become a model of sustainable development, prosperity, humanity and livability in the Northwest region./.

Hong Thanh Tam

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/yen-bai-lao-cai-hop-tac-cung-phat-trien-102250410124154104.htm