Cao Bang (VNA) – The 20th Party Congress of the northern province of Cao Bang, the 2025–2030 tenure, took place on September 17, with 399 official delegates representing 62,935 Party members from 60 local Party committees, alongside 151 guests.

Attending the congress, General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, praised the achievements of the Party, administration, and people of Cao Bang so far.

He asked the province to focus on developing infrastructure, particularly transportation, improving human resources, bettering the investment climate linked to tourism and services, accelerating agricultural restructuring, developing typical products, and expanding border trade. He also stressed the importance of leveraging the Cao Bang Global Geopark.

In the Party building, Quang emphasised the need to strengthen leadership capacity, combat corruption, and build a contingent of capable personnel. He also stressed the need for maintaining national defence and security, protecting the border, ensuring stability, and improving the life quality of people in remote and ethnic minority areas.

He also asked the congress to select talented and passionate cadres for the new tenure to ensure the successful implementation of the 20th Congress’s resolution, thus contributing to national construction and defence.

Secretary of the Cao Bang Party Committee Quan Minh Cuong reported the locality’s progress in the past five years, with positive economic restructuring and per capita GRDP reaching 50.73 million VND (1,923 USD) per year, 1.4 times higher than 2020. Tourism, infrastructure, and the implementation of ethnic and religious policies have progressed. National defence, security, and social order have remained stable, and international integration has expanded.

However, he added, challenges remain, including economic fragmentation, weak sectoral connections, and high poverty in remote areas.

The political report delivered at the congress noted that Cao Bang's economy has stayed stable, with an average GRDP growth rate of 4.46% per year. The economic structure is shifting positively, and the new-style countryside development programme have reaped fruits. Industry has grown at 8.87% per year, driven by mineral and hydropower projects. The trade and services sector has seen rapid recovery, with average revenue growth of 11.95% per year. Cross-border trade turnover exceeded 4.4 billion USD, accounting for 46% of the provincial budget collection. Several border gates have been upgraded, strengthening links with China and ASEAN.

Cao Bang has invested over 18 trillion VND in infrastructure. Its urbanisation rate stands at 25.5%. Budget revenues during 2021–2025 reached 13.67 trillion VND, a 20.39% annual increase. The investment environment has also improved, with 244 new projects and 753 new businesses, bringing the total number of local businesses to 2,292, up 48.93%.

Education has recorded improvements, particularly in remote and ethnic minority areas. Meanwhile, health care has progressed, with effective COVID-19 control, 81.6% of health stations staffed with doctors, and 94.4% of communes meeting national health standards. Social welfare has been ensured, with the household poverty rate reducing by 4.24% annually, and over 98% of the population now covered by health insurance.

National defence and security have been strengthened, with political stability and social order maintained. The local administrative apparatus has been streamlined, and more than 9,000 new Party members admitted, raising the total to nearly 63,000. Anti-corruption efforts and judicial reforms have also been intensified, according to the political report.

Meanwhile, the report reviewing the performance of the provincial Party Committee and its Standing Board during the 19th tenure, 2020–2025, noted that the provincial Party Committee and its Standing Board have built on the achievements and experiences of the previous tenure to address difficulties and lead the entire Party organisation, armed forces, and people to fulfil the targets set by the 19th provincial Party Congress.

🐼 At the 20th congress, delegates elected the 20th provincial Party Committee for 2025–2030, consisting of 55 members. In the afternoon of September 17, the first plenary session of the new committee took place, where leadership positions were appointed and delegates to the 14th National Party Congress selected./.