Truong is the youngest commune secretary among the 166 new commune-level administrative units in Thanh Hoa province. He was appointed by the provincial standing committee on 30/6.
Truong, from Hop Ly commune, Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa, holds a senior degree in political theory. In 2022, at the age of 33, he became the youngest associate professor in the country in the interdisciplinary field of philosophy, sociology, and political science.
Before his appointment to Pu Nhi, Truong was a lecturer and held various positions at the University of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Thanh Hoa. These included deputy head of the Culture and Society Department, head of the Social Work Department, and secretary of the university's Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. In 5/2024, he was elected deputy secretary of Thanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union for the 2022-2027 term.
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Associate Professor Doan Van Truong, the new party secretary of Pu Nhi commune. Photo: Le Hoang |
Associate Professor Doan Van Truong, the new party secretary of Pu Nhi commune. Photo: Le Hoang
Pu Nhi commune, Truong's new assignment, is a particularly disadvantaged border commune in western Thanh Hoa. It covers nearly 66 square kilometers and has a population of over 5,900, of which 95% are ethnic minorities, nearly 80% being Hmong. Transportation is challenging, with several villages located tens of kilometers from the commune center via treacherous mountain roads. The poverty rate is high, currently over 50%. The literacy rate is limited, and access to information, public services, healthcare, and education remains difficult.
According to Truong, although not included in the administrative merger, Pu Nhi commune is still considered an integral part of the overall innovation process. "We believe that the greater the difficulty, the more drastic the innovation must be, and the more streamlined and effective it must be," Truong stated at the conference announcing personnel appointments for the 166 newly arranged communes and wards.
He affirmed that the decision to maintain the commune as an independent administrative unit was based on specific factors related to the area, its population, and border security. However, the quality of management and public services will still be improved.
The new party secretary of Pu Nhi commune is determined to take immediate action. His goals include quickly consolidating the administrative apparatus, promoting administrative reform and digital transformation, and improving public services. Specific targets include reducing the poverty rate by about 7% annually, increasing the proportion of people with access to clean water and health insurance, and maintaining security and order in the border region.
After the restructuring, Thanh Hoa has reduced its commune-level administrative units from 547 to 166. Among them are 126 newly formed communes, 19 new wards, and 21 existing communes. The assignment and arrangement of officials to the new units has been largely completed, ready for official operation from 1/7.
Le Hoang