Welcoming and working with the delegation here were Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the provincial Steering Committee on Border Affairs, and leaders of several relevant departments, agencies and localities.

The Chieng Khuong border gate, which connects to National Highway 4G, holds an important position in trade between Son La province and northern Lao provinces. It was officially opened in December 1999.

In 2001, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 188/2001/QD-TTg allowing the Chieng Khuong border gate to apply border-gate economic zone policies. In 2002, the Son La provincial People’s Committee approved a project to build the border gate's basic infrastructure. In 2005, it was renamed Chieng Khuong main border gate.

In recent years, import-export activities through the border gate have shown positive developments, with increasing volumes of vehicles and traded goods. In 2025, total import-export turnover reached nearly 9 million USD.

At the working session, delegates heard presentations on plans and roadmaps for upgrading Chieng Khuong main border gate to meet development requirements in the new period, aligning with the growing import-export activities, and ensuring local defence and security.

At the working session, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu emphasised that the survey provides an opportunity for the province to establish a basis for developing mechanisms and policies to attract enterprises to invest in socio-economic development in border areas, creating favourable conditions for production, business and the circulation of goods, and turning the area into a highlight of regional connectivity and a new driver of economic growth.

This, he noted, would contribute to strengthening, nurturing and further developing the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos.