On the morning of 19/11, Trung was elected, succeeding Le Van Luong, who the Secretariat had transferred to serve as deputy secretary of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee three days prior.

In his acceptance speech, Trung pledged to engage closely with local communities, listen to residents, and prioritize Lai Chau's rapid, green, and sustainable development.

Ha Quang Trung speaking on the morning of 19/11. Photo: Lai Chau Newspaper.

Ha Quang Trung, 49, hails from Hung Yen. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance and credit and a master's in business and management. His career includes various roles in Dien Bien, such as director of the Department of Finance, secretary of the Dien Bien Phu City Party Committee, chairman of the Dien Bien Phu City People's Council, deputy head of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, and deputy secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. Two days prior to his new appointment, the Secretariat transferred him to Lai Chau as deputy secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.

Lai Chau is a mountainous province in Vietnam's Northwest region, bordering Yunnan (China), Lao Cai, Dien Bien, and Son La. It spans approximately 9,000 km2 and has a population of nearly 500,000. The province shares over 265 km of border with China and hosts the Ma Lu Thang national border gate. The Provincial Party Congress, held in mid-October, outlined a development strategy aiming for Lai Chau to reach the average development level of the northern midland and mountainous region by 2030 and the national average by 2045.

Vu Tuan