1st Congress of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

This was the first congress since the merger of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with that of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Delegates set the goal of building a modern green economy by 2030, thereby contributing to a prosperous and strong Vietnam by 2045.

Operating under the motto “Solidarity – Democracy – Discipline – Breakthrough – Development,” the congress reached broad consensus on its strategic direction, reaffirming its commitment to establishing a modern green economy as a foundation for national prosperity.

Key leadership appointments

At the congress, Comrade Vo Thanh Nam, Deputy Head of the Government Party Committee's Organization Committee, announced the decisions of the Standing Board on the composition of the Executive Committee, Standing Board, Secretary, and Deputy Secretaries of the MAE Party Committee for the new term.

The 1st Executive Committee comprises 31 members, with a 10-member Standing Board. Comrade Tran Duc Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Government Party Committee, and Acting Minister of MAE, was appointed Secretary of the MAE Party Committee for 2025–2030.

Comrade Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of MAE, was appointed Standing Deputy Secretary; Comrade Ngo Hong Giang, full-time Deputy Secretary for the 2020–2025 term, was reappointed to the same position.

In his opening remark, Comrade Tran Duc Thang emphasized that the Party Committee would continue to foster unity and consensus, uphold the highest political determination to fully realize the sector’s 2030 goals, and move forward with confidence and creativity in a new era of national development.

Highlights of the 2020–2025 term

Since the start of the term, guided by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Government Resolution 50/NQ-CP, the Party Committees of the two former ministries implemented comprehensive and decisive action programs. All eight major political targets were achieved, with many exceeding expectations.

The agricultural sector recorded an average GDP growth rate of over 3.5%, surpassing the 2.5–3% target. Agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports grew by 8.4% annually (above the 5–6% target), while 80.5–81.5% of communes are expected to meet new rural development standards. Environmental infrastructure in industrial zones was upgraded, with centralized wastewater treatment coverage reaching 92.3%.

The ministries advanced key resolutions and strategies, unified sectoral management, and addressed development bottlenecks. In 2025, Decree 35/2025/ND-CP established the legal framework for the merged ministry with a streamlined, efficient organizational structure.

Agricultural and rural infrastructure was modernized, and national databases were integrated into the e-Government platform. Remote sensing and mapping technologies were applied extensively in resource management and border protection.

From 2021–2025, over VND 85 trillion in public investment was allocated and effectively disbursed. International cooperation expanded, positioning Vietnam as a model for green, low-emission agriculture. Science and technology were key drivers, with 51 national programs, more than 1,800 standards, 175 technical regulations, 21 research institutes, 34 training facilities, and over 11,000 scientists.

Sectoral highlights included multi-value, organic, and circular agriculture; high-tech livestock farming; successful production and export of African swine fever vaccines; offshore fisheries tied to sovereignty protection; forest carbon credit sales generating VND 1.2 trillion; and rural development that increased average incomes from VND 43 million to VND 55 million per year while reducing multidimensional poverty to 1.93%. The 2024 Land Law improved legal transparency; the marine economy contributed 50% of GDP, with coastal residents earning VND 97 million annually.

Environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation all achieved notable results, enhancing Vietnam’s global standing.

Strategic priorities for 2025–2030

Presenting the draft political report, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated that by 2030, Vietnam’s agriculture should become modern, high-quality, and high-yield, ranking among Southeast Asia’s leaders and the world’s top 15, ensuring food security and sustaining export growth.

In agriculture, priorities include restructuring toward multi-value integration, increasing added value, expanding deep processing, building modern logistics chains, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting rural economic development aligned with ecological sustainability and digital transformation.

In resources and environment, the next term will feature sweeping reforms in land, water, and mineral management and environmental standards. Conservation areas will be expanded, monitoring systems enhanced, and the principle of never trading the environment for economic growth upheld.

To achieve these goals, the congress identified four strategic breakthroughs: institutional reform, science and technology, infrastructure, and high-quality human resources.

Institutional reform will unlock development bottlenecks and promote transparent, modern governance. Science, technology, and innovation will contribute over 50% of growth via total factor productivity (TFP) by 2030. Infrastructure investment - from agriculture and rural areas to environmental systems and disaster prevention- will safeguard livelihoods and development quality. And human resource development will be central to adapting to digital transformation, climate change, and global integration.

Unity for the new term

Following two days of open and democratic discussion, delegates reached strong consensus on the congress’s theme, objectives, breakthroughs, and solutions for 2025–2030. They adopted the Political Report and the review of the 2020–2025 term, authorizing the new Executive Committee to incorporate feedback and implement them.

The congress reaffirmed its adherence to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, applied creatively to practical conditions; stressed the importance of building a clean, strong Party and political system; and highlighted the need for political resolve, leadership capability, and combativeness among all cadres and Party members, particularly key leaders.

In his closing remarks, Comrade Tran Duc Thang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment, affirmed that the congress’s success reflected the will and aspirations of all officials and Party members within the Party Committee. It embodied the unity, consensus, and aspiration for renewal of the Party Committee, government, and socio-political organizations; the positive results of grassroots- and higher-level Party congresses; and the democratic spirit and collective wisdom of the Party’s outstanding delegates attending the event.

Following the congress, the Party Committee of the Ministry instructed all Party organizations, agencies, and units under its authority to thoroughly study, disseminate, and widely communicate the resolution’s contents to every official and Party member, fostering a shared understanding, determination, and aspiration for the Ministry’s and sector’s development over the next five years and beyond. They were also directed to develop specific plans and action programs to promptly implement the resolution, ensuring substantial and effective transformation across all areas.

Comrade Tran Duc Thang emphasized that putting the resolution into practice requires a high degree of unity and consensus across the Party Committee. Every Party committee member, leader, and manager must lead by example - daring to think, act, take responsibility, face challenges, and act decisively - to realize the set goals.