On the morning of 3/3, at a conference in Ninh Binh to announce a Politburo decision, a representative from the Central Organization Commission announced the Politburo's decision for Mr. Dang Xuan Phong to cease holding the positions of Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation for Ninh Binh province, and other related structural roles. Based on this, the Prime Minister assigned and appointed him Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Government Office.

The Government Office serves the Government and the Prime Minister. Its functions include providing comprehensive advice, coordinating government activities, monitoring the implementation of work programs, and appraising and reviewing proposals before their submission to the Government and Prime Minister.

The Government Office is currently led by Mr. Tran Van Son, Minister and Chairman. Mr. Son is not a member of the 14th Central Committee. The deputy chairmen include Mr. Dang Xuan Phong as Permanent Deputy Chairman, Mr. Do Ngoc Huynh, Mr. Pham Manh Cuong, and Ms. Mai Thi Thu Van.

Mr. Dang Xuan Phong taking office as Secretary of Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee, October 2025. Photo: *Le Hoang*.

Mr. Dang Xuan Phong is 54 years old and hails from Phu Tho. He holds a PhD in Economics, a bachelor's degree in Industrial Business Administration, and a bachelor's degree in Party Building and State Administration. He is a member of the 13th and 14th Central Committees and a delegate to the 15th National Assembly.

He worked for about 20 years at the Lao Cai Department of Planning and Investment, progressing from a specialist to its director. Subsequently, he held key leadership positions in Lao Cai for 10 years, serving five years as Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee from 2015-2020 and five years as Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee from 2020-2025. During the 2020-2025 period, Lao Cai's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) increased by an average of 6,92% annually. The economic scale reached 142,500 billion dong, per capita GRDP was 85 million dong, and average income reached 47 million dong per person annually.

Many major infrastructure projects were invested in and put into use, such as the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, the Sa Pa connecting route, and the Lang Giang and Phu Thinh bridges over the Red River. Additionally, several projects are being implemented, including the Sa Pa airport, the standard gauge railway from Lao Cai to Hanoi to Hai Phong, and the upgrade of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway.

In early 2025, the Politburo transferred him to serve as Secretary of the former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee. From 1/7/2025, following the merger of Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, and Phu Tho, he assumed the role of Secretary of the newly established Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee. Three months later, he was again transferred to become Secretary of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee, as part of an initiative to appoint provincial and city leaders who are not from the local area.

Vu Tuan