Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued this directive at a conference held on the morning of 11/1 to review 2025 work and outline directions for 2026 for the Government Party Committee.

The comprehensive streamlining campaign began in late 2024. Within the government, five ministries and ministerial-level agencies, along with three affiliated agencies, have been reduced. All 13 general departments were abolished, while over 500 departments, more than 230 divisions, and over 3,370 sub-departments were streamlined. Additionally, 82 public non-business units were reorganized.

At the local level, the number of provinces and cities was reduced from 63 to 34. More than 10,000 communes and wards were consolidated into 3,321 communes, wards, and special zones, while the district level was abolished. Localities have also reduced over 700 provincial-level specialized agencies and more than 8,200 district-level specialized agencies.

Beyond organizational streamlining, the head of government urged continued efforts to build, complete, and effectively implement two strategic 100-year goals: becoming a developing, upper-middle-income country by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045. Based on this, agencies are to pursue five specific strategies: institutional improvement, resource mobilization, infrastructure investment, technology development, and maintaining balance.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaking on 11/1. Photo: Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister noted that in 2026, the Government Party Committee must focus on directing, organizing, and ensuring the safety and success of the 14th Party Congress, and subsequently implementing its resolutions. Concurrently, the Government Party Committee will execute the conclusions of the Central Committee and the National Assembly concerning the 2026 socio-economic development plan, as well as the Politburo's strategic breakthrough resolutions.

"It is essential to accelerate the implementation of the three strategic breakthroughs, develop culture, education, and training, ensure social welfare, and leave no one behind", the Prime Minister stated.

Reflecting on 2025, the Prime Minister highlighted "turning the situation around" as a significant achievement amidst difficulties and challenges. Despite a global trend of slower economic growth, high inflation, unstable macroeconomics, and rising public debt, Vietnam achieved high economic growth, effectively controlled inflation, maintained macroeconomic stability, secured major balances, and kept public debt and budget deficit well under control.

According to the Prime Minister, the greatest accomplishment was strengthening the public's trust in the Party and the State, as well as the confidence of domestic and foreign businesses and investors. The Government Party Committee successfully led the completion and exceeding of targets for the three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources. It also directed apparatus rearrangement, personnel streamlining, responded to climate change, and mitigated the consequences of natural disasters.

The Prime Minister commended the Government Party Committee for its focused direction, which "turned danger into opportunity, thought into resources, and challenges into motivation", effectively mobilizing public strength to contribute to national development.

The Government Party Committee was established for the first time in January 2025, following a Politburo decision. After transferring 30 enterprise Party Committees to three ministerial-level Party Committees, the Government Party Committee now comprises 21 affiliated Party Committees and 138,675 Party members.

In 2025, the Government Party Committee tasked agencies with preparing 160 projects for submission to the Politburo and the Secretariat. These included many strategic breakthrough resolutions and major projects, which helped resolve long-standing issues and unblock bottlenecks.

The Prime Minister and delegates attending the conference. Photo: Nhat Bac

The Government Party Committee guided the government in issuing directives, urging and instructing ministries and localities to arrange and streamline organizational structures. Alongside promoting public investment disbursement, the Government Party Committee's leadership contributed to an 8,02% GDP growth, placing it among the highest in the region and the world. The economy's size reached 514 billion USD, ranking 32nd globally, with a per capita income exceeding 5,000 USD, positioning Vietnam in the upper-middle-income group.

Last year's total import-export turnover reached 930 billion USD, marking the 10th consecutive year of trade surplus with 21 billion USD. State budget revenue amounted to 2,65 quadrillion VND. Vietnam attracted 38,5 billion USD in foreign direct investment in 2025.

The government simultaneously organized three inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies for 564 projects, totaling 5,12 quadrillion VND in capital. It completed the technical opening of the entire North-South Expressway and finished the construction phase of Long Thanh Airport.

Vu Tuan