On 19/7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh appointed Tran Duc Thang, standing deputy inspector general of the Government Inspectorate, as acting minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The prime minister explained that this leadership change aims to ensure the ministry fulfills its regular duties and any unexpected tasks, such as responding to storms and natural disasters. He urged Thang and the ministry to strive to complete their assigned tasks.
The prime minister emphasized the ministry's broad responsibilities, including agriculture, forestry, salt production, fisheries, irrigation, natural disaster prevention, rural development, land, water resources, minerals, geology, environment, meteorology, climate change, natural resources, and marine and island environmental protection.
He highlighted the heavy workload for the remainder of 2025, with the need to achieve socio-economic development targets for both the year and the entire 13th National Congress term.
"The ministry should not engage in specific tasks or directly participate in projects, especially those involving land, resources, and minerals, which are sensitive areas prone to violations," the prime minister cautioned, urging a focus on macro-management and greater decentralization.
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Prime minister Pham Minh Chinh appoints Tran Duc Thang as acting minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on 19/7. Photo: Nhat Bac |
Prime minister Pham Minh Chinh appoints Tran Duc Thang as acting minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on 19/7. Photo: Nhat Bac
The agriculture and environment sector will continue to advise on institutional and policy reforms, enhancing land management and utilization to drive Vietnam's development into a high-income country, and effectively implementing the Law on Geology and Minerals. The sector needs to prioritize farmers, rural areas, and agriculture as the driving force. Ensuring domestic food security, while fulfilling supply agreements with partners, is also crucial. Other important areas include addressing environmental pollution and preventing floods and natural disasters.
Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang pledged to successfully organize the ministry's Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term and fulfill all government objectives.
Two days prior, on 17/7, the Politburo reprimanded Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Do Duc Duy. Subsequently, the president suspended Duy from his ministerial position for the 2021-2026 term, pending dismissal by the 15th National Assembly.
On the same day, Prime Minister Chinh appointed Tran Duc Thang as acting minister, replacing Duy.
Thang, 52, from Vinh Phuc, holds a doctorate in economics and is a member of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party. He previously served as deputy director and then director of the Public Asset Management Department (Ministry of Finance). In 10/2018, he was elected to the Central Inspection Committee and became its deputy chairman in 2020. In 10/2022, the Politburo appointed him as secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.
He was appointed standing deputy inspector general of the Government Inspectorate by the prime minister on 1/7, as Hai Duong merged with Hai Phong to form the new Hai Phong city.
Vu Tuan
