Comrade Vu Hong Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, delivers his address at the Session

Dear Comrade Trinh Xuan Truong, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee!

Dear Comrade Vuong Quoc Tuan, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the 14th Provincial People's Committee!

Dear Comrade Nguyen Dang Binh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the 14th Provincial People's Council!

Dear Presiding Officer of the Session; comrades, central delegates and National Assembly delegates; current and former provincial leaders!

Dear all delegates in attendance at the Session!

Today, on behalf of the leadership of the National Assembly, I attend the First Session of the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council. On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I wish to convey my warmest greetings and best wishes to the leaders of Thai Nguyen province, the delegates of the Provincial People's Council, distinguished guests and all participants in attendance. I wish you all good health and happiness and I wish the First Session of the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council great success.

Dear comrades and delegates!

2026 is a year in which many important events are taking place across the country. Immediately following the success of the 14th National Party Congress, the entire country conducted the elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Council at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 term. According to the National Election Council's report, the elections were conducted in a democratic, equal, law-abiding manner, with absolute safety and cost-efficiency and were truly a nationwide civic celebration. With regard to Thai Nguyen, upon reviewing the report of the provincial Election Committee, I was deeply impressed by the results achieved by the Provincial Party Committee, the provincial government and the people of all ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen province in the recent elections. Voter turnout was exceptionally high at 99.97%, surpassing the national average of 99.68%; all 10 National Assembly delegates, 59 provincial People's Council delegates and 1,882 commune-level People's Council delegates were successfully elected, with no constituency requiring a supplementary election. The elections were conducted rigorously and in accordance with regulations, clearly reflecting the concentrated, unified leadership of Party committees and governments at all levels and the wholehearted participation and support of the people. Furthermore, the province's socioeconomic situation continues to yield many positive results, with the economy maintaining solid growth momentum and continuing to shine as a model for industrial development. Export turnover remains at nearly USD 30 billion per year, placing the province among the leading localities nationwide. Investment attraction — particularly FDI — continues to grow strongly, affirming the province's role as an important industrial production and technology center of the northern region and a key player in the national electronics manufacturing supply chain. In addition, the development of new industrial parks at a large scale, increasingly synchronized infrastructure and the positive shift toward the digital economy are creating new room and momentum for growth in Thai Nguyen in the coming time.

Dear comrades and delegates!

Among the province's collective achievements, the People's Council and each of its individual delegates have made important contributions. In recent times, the operations of the People's Councils at all levels in the province have undergone many reforms and have effectively fulfilled their legally mandated functions and duties; the organization of sessions has become increasingly substantive, promoting democracy and drawing on the wisdom of the delegates; oversight, interpellation and accountability activities have been strengthened, focusing on significant and pressing practical issues; and the quality of the work of delegate groups and individual delegates has continued to improve. These reforms have made a positive contribution to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of governance and administration at all levels and have been recognized by voters and the people. On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I acknowledge and commend the important results achieved by the Provincial Party Committee, the provincial government and the people of Thai Nguyen province in recent times.

Dear comrades and delegates!

The 2026 - 2031 term places increasingly high demands on local governments at all levels, in a context where the country is accelerating the construction and completion of the socialist rule-of-law state; implementing the two-tier local government model; and pursuing rapid and sustainable development on the foundation of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. At the same time, local governments must proactively and effectively adapt to climate change and the rapid, complex shifts in the global, regional and domestic situation. It is therefore of critical importance for the achievement of the country's rapid and sustainable development goals — including Thai Nguyen's aspiration to become an important growth pole and a modern industrial center with upper-middle income status before 2030.

To that end, I call upon the Provincial Party Committee, the provincial government and the people of Thai Nguyen province to continue upholding the spirit of solidarity and unity, to strive diligently and to translate political resolve into specific, practical and ever more effective actions, with particular attention to the following:

Firstly, it is necessary to update and clearly define the province's development orientation following the merger, promoting its role as an important regional center of industry, education, science and technology; to accurately assess the current situation and clarify existing limitations and shortcomings — particularly their subjective causes and the responsibility of those in leadership positions — so as to formulate resolute, synchronized and practical solutions aligned with the objectives and targets of the entire term. The merger of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan has opened a new development space of greater scale and more diverse potential, while also setting very high demands on leadership, management and implementation. Drawing on lessons from experience in planning and investment development in recent times, Thai Nguyen is urged to proactively coordinate closely with central ministries and agencies in the planning and investment for the development of transport infrastructure, logistics, industrial parks and urban areas; and to promptly put forward proposals and recommendations to remove difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions for development.

I urge the province to urgently review and refine adjustments to the overall master plan, reshaping its development space in a direction that effectively leverages the complementary strengths of different areas; to prioritize investment in connective infrastructure — particularly transport and digital infrastructure — in order to create integration and unity throughout the province. At the same time, special attention must be given to areas that still face many difficulties, especially the former Bac Kan region; appropriate priority mechanisms and policies must be in place to support socioeconomic development, improve people's living standards, narrow the development gap between regions and ensure harmonious, sustainable development throughout the province.

In addition, it is essential to thoroughly implement the major orientations of the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo's strategic resolutions; to decisively shift the development mindset from breadth to depth, with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the primary drivers; to timely institutionalize the major orientations of the Party and State into specific, feasible mechanisms and policies; to fully leverage the potentials and strategic locational advantages, mobilize and efficiently utilize all resources, generate new growth drivers, improve the quality of growth and the competitiveness of the economy and ensure rapid yet sustainable development — so that Thai Nguyen gradually emerges as a dynamic development center of the northern region, making an increasingly important contribution to the country's overall development.

Secondly, continue advancing administrative reform, tightening administrative discipline and order, strengthening power oversight and combating corruption, waste and wrongdoing in the exercise of public duties; effectively implement the two-tier local government model suited to the conditions of a broad territory with many mountainous areas and ethnic minority communities; promptly address difficulties and inadequacies arising in the course of operation — ensuring a streamlined, smooth-functioning apparatus that is close to the people and better serves citizens and businesses; to improve the quality of the cadre and civil servant corps; resolutely deal with acts of harassment and inconvenience toward citizens and businesses; review and refine mechanisms and policies in the direction of openness and transparency, creating a more favorable investment and business environment to allocate, mobilize and effectively use all resources in support of double-digit growth. In addition, land management, urban order and environmental protection must be strengthened; pollution prevention and remediation must be proactively pursued, particularly in industrial parks, industrial clusters and craft villages.

Thirdly, the activities of the Provincial People's Council must continue to be reformed and improved in quality and effectiveness — particularly in the quality of policy decisions; each resolution issued must be focused, feasible and squarely address major local issues; prior to issuance, a thorough impact assessment must be conducted and following issuance, implementation must be rigorously monitored and evaluated, with specific, measurable results. Voter engagement and citizen reception activities must be promoted; the quality of scrutiny and oversight by the Commissions and delegate groups must be improved; coordination between the People's Council and the provincial National Assembly Delegation, the Provincial People's Committee and the provincial Fatherland Front Committee must be strengthened, creating unity and synchronization throughout the broader political system. Each delegate of the Provincial People's Council must continue to uphold their role and responsibilities — remaining close to the people, attentive to their needs and promptly listening to and conveying the legitimate aspirations and wishes of the electorate.

Fourthly, regarding the consolidation of the organizational apparatus: in this Session, the Provincial People's Council will proceed to elect the Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Council and to decide on the establishment of the Commissions of the 15th Provincial People's Council. This is a matter of special importance, as it constitutes the decisive starting point that will determine the quality and effectiveness of the Council's operations throughout the entire term. I therefore urge the delegates of the Provincial People's Council to closely follow the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee; to fully, rigorously and procedurally comply with the Constitution and applicable laws regarding personnel work within their authority; to exercise the utmost sense of responsibility before voters and the people, ensuring that the selection and election of officials is conducted in a democratic, objective and law-compliant manner; and to select individuals who are truly outstanding in terms of political fortitude, ethical character, professional capacity, public standing and practical experience and who are capable of organizing, directing and reforming the activities of the Provincial People's Council.

Immediately upon consolidation and in order to establish the legal basis for the local government apparatus to commence operations without delay, comprehensive regulations on the functions, duties, authority and working relationships of each body must be promptly developed and issued; the operational mechanisms of each agency and unit must be clearly defined in accordance with the principle of clear assignment of persons, tasks, responsibilities, processes, completion timelines and measurable outcomes; the organizational apparatus must be quickly stabilized to ensure continuous and smooth operation; administrative discipline and order must be strengthened; and the effectiveness and efficiency of governance and administration must be improved — with absolutely no gaps or delays permitted in the performance of duties from the very first days of the term.

I am confident that the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council and each of its delegates will continue to embody the spirit of reform and responsibility, making the First Session a true opening to an effective term, contributing to the successful achievement of the province's development goals for the 2026 - 2031 period. The Party and the State will always give their attention to and create favorable conditions for Thai Nguyen to develop rapidly and sustainably, promoting its role as an important growth pole and one of the major industrial centers of the northern region, with a radiating influence on the midland and mountainous northern region. I urge Thai Nguyen to continue proactively coordinating closely with central agencies; to concentrate on identifying and promptly resolving bottlenecks in mechanisms, policies and resources within its authority; and to promptly propose to the central government appropriate mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties and obstacles and to effectively capitalize on development opportunities for Thai Nguyen in the new era.

Dear comrades and all delegates!

The First Session of the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council is a session of great importance — the starting point of a new term with many new objectives, demands and expectations. With the foundations already established and with high political resolve and given sound implementation, Thai Nguyen is fully positioned to achieve a powerful breakthrough in the period ahead, striving for sustained double-digit growth and making a positive contribution to the country's overall development. I am confident that the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council and each of its delegates will continue to embody the spirit of reform and responsibility — remaining close to the people, attentive to their needs, faithfully listening to and conveying the aspirations and wishes of voters; and continuously improving the quality of decision-making and oversight, contributing to the construction of an ever more effective and efficient local government.

People's Councils and People's Committees at all levels must strive with even greater determination and resolve, taking concrete action — with words matched by deeds — from the very first days and months and maintaining that consistency, perseverance and continuity throughout the entire five-year journey of the 2026 - 2031 term, with the firm resolve to build a Thai Nguyen local government that is clean, strong, upright, innovative, action-oriented and service-oriented, while maintaining the full trust of voters and the people of the province.

With their tradition of solidarity, dynamism, creativity and aspiration for advancement, the Provincial Party Committee, the provincial government and the people of all ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen province will continue to seize opportunities, overcome difficulties and challenges, effectively leverage their potentials and advantages and guide the province toward rapid, sustainable development — becoming ever more prosperous, civilized and worthy of its role as an important growth pole of the northern region.

Once again, I wish good health, happiness and success to the provincial leadership, all delegates and all voters and people of all ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen province.

May the First Session of the 15th Thai Nguyen Province People's Council be a great success.

Thank you very much!