On 28 October 2026, Minister Heklai Sivilay of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport visited Phongsaly Province with his delegation for a consultation meeting with the provincial leadership. The province was represented by Lieutenant General Somphon Mithaphone, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Assembly, and Mr. Phonsay Onsa, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Administrative Committee, along with other officials.

Lieutenant General Somphon welcomed the delegation and praised the minister and his team for their close attention to, and strong support for, the province's economic and social development and its infrastructure.

Mr. Phonsay Onsa gave an overview of the province's socio-economic progress over the past five years. He said that infrastructure has been a key priority, especially the repair of roads that had long made travel and freight transport difficult. Better roads, he noted, are decisive for transport and connectivity, and they can unlock major potential by linking districts and provinces to the national road network and to the Chinese and Vietnamese borders.

Technical reports and discussion

Directors and deputy directors from the ministry presented reports and gave their input on plans to strengthen and expand infrastructure across the province for 2026 to 2030. The topics included:

• Planning and finance
• Water supply
• Aviation
• Party and staff organization
• Bridges and roads
• Urban planning
• Waterways
• Transport services and vehicle management

Minister Heklai Sivilay then addressed the meeting. He spoke about road infrastructure throughout the province and its potential for economic and social growth, the management of public and private investment, revenue and spending, promoting commercial agriculture, developing tourism, and rural development aimed at reducing poverty.

Cooperation memorandum signed

The meeting closed with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the ministry and the provincial government on developing Phongsaly. The agreement puts into practice Prime Minister's Decree No. 27/PM, dated 20 April 2026, which assigns responsibilities to ministries and equivalent agencies for supporting Vientiane Capital and the provinces across the country.