Towards an Agriculture and Environment for People

The development orientation of Vietnam's Agriculture and Environment sector to 2045 according to the ideology of General Secretary To Lam is 'For people, for a sustainable future'.

Immediately after being elected General Secretary by the 13th Party Central Committee, Comrade To Lam repeatedly emphasized: Economic development must be associated with environmental protection, with people at the center, agriculture as the foundation, rural areas as the development space, and farmers as the subject of the innovation process.

Economic development must be closely linked to environmental protection, with people at the center, agriculture as the foundation, rural areas as the development space, and farmers as the subject of the innovation process. Photo: Khuong Trung.

That ideology not only demonstrates the strategic vision of the Party leader but also opens up a clear direction for the field of vital significance to the country: Agriculture and Environment.

During working sessions with leaders of the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , General Secretary To Lam always emphasized the organic relationship between socio-economic development and ecological environment preservation. He said that if development is not sustainable and the environment is destroyed, all economic achievements will be erased. At the same time, it is necessary to thoroughly understand and fully recognize the role and importance of agriculture in economic and social development, improving people's lives, in accordance with the spirit: "Agriculture is a national advantage, a pillar of the economy."

The General Secretary affirmed that farmers are always the strategic force of the nation - those who produce food, preserve culture and are the foundation of the great national unity bloc. Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW of the Central Committee clearly stated: "Agriculture is the national advantage, the pillar of the economy." Regardless of the circumstances, agriculture still achieves positive results, is a solid support for the country's breakthrough developments.

According to General Secretary To Lam, the country is entering a new development phase with the historic mission of realizing the nation's two 100-year goals. The goal of continuous double-digit growth poses many challenges, requiring extraordinary efforts, precise and synchronous actions in every step. The Politburo is currently directing the review and assessment of the implementation of Resolution 19-NQ/TW, in order to have appropriate policies to continue developing agriculture, farmers and rural areas in the coming time.

To make agriculture a breakthrough, the countryside rich and beautiful, and farmers happy, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that farmers must be placed at the center. Each farmer is not only a pioneer on the food security front, but also an “entrepreneur of the land”, an “ecological engineer” protecting land, water, forests and seas.

At the same time, strictly protecting natural resources and the ecological environment is an inseparable requirement, especially in localities with both forests and seas. Development must be sustainable, harmonizing the economy, society and environment for today and future generations. That is the way for Vietnam to both ensure national food security and contribute to the global sustainable development goals.

The instructions of General Secretary To Lam show our Party's consistent development vision in the new period: Vietnam strives to become a country with a green economy, circular economy, ecological agriculture and sustainable social development.

80 years of accompanying the country's development

Over eight decades of development and growth, the Agriculture and Environment sector has always held a special position in the national development process. From the early difficult days to the integration period, the sector's mark has been closely associated with every step of the Vietnamese economy, from rice grains, water drops to green forests and silver seas.

General Secretary To Lam chaired a working session with the Government Party Committee Standing Committee on the implementation of Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW on September 17, 2025. Photo: VNA.

Over the past 80 years, the multi-generational team has not only been responsible for managing production but also for ensuring the harmony between development and conservation. As the economy has grown, the demand for resources has increased, and the environment has come under pressure, the industry has transformed dramatically, linking growth targets with the protection of ecosystems, water resources, land, forests and seas.

Combining agricultural and environmental management in the same unified structure is not only administrative, but also a strategic step, demonstrating a vision of sustainable development. In which, agriculture is seen as in harmony with nature, taking advantage of ecological advantages, reducing emissions, protecting biodiversity, and adapting to climate change that Vietnam is aiming for.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is also one of the pioneering agencies in implementing international commitments on sustainable development, emission reduction and environmental protection. This direction not only affirms Vietnam’s responsibility to the international community, but is also a path of deep integration, long-term and humane development.

Looking back over eighty years, the journey of the Agriculture and Environment sector has been a journey that runs through the history of the country, from “fighting hunger” in the resistance war to “agricultural innovation” in integration; from “hunger eradication and poverty reduction” to “building new rural areas, developing ecological agriculture, and civilized farmers”. Each stage reflects the spirit of flexible adaptation, creativity, and responsibility to the people and the Fatherland.

Speaking at the program "Pride of Vietnamese Farmers in 2025" organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union in mid-October, President Luong Cuong stated that throughout the history of the Vietnamese nation, our farmers have played a very important role and made great contributions in the process of reclaiming land, expanding territory, establishing the country, building and defending the Fatherland.

In the context of the world situation continuing to change in a complex and unpredictable manner, and domestically, besides opportunities and very favorable conditions, there are still many difficulties and challenges. The President said that to realize the two 100-year strategic goals, agriculture, farmers and rural areas play a very important role; they are the foundation and a great force contributing to socio-economic development, environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, maintaining political stability, ensuring national defense and security, preserving and promoting cultural values ​​and Vietnamese people, meeting the requirements of international integration.

Paving the way for sustainable development

Entering a new era, the Agriculture and Environment sector has identified the guiding ideology as: “Solidarity - Democracy - Discipline - Breakthrough - Development”. In particular, pioneering three major transformation trends: green transformation, digital transformation and agricultural ecological transformation. This is the inevitable path to sustainable development, improving productivity, quality, value and competitiveness of Vietnamese agriculture, while protecting the environment and adapting to climate change.

Since the early 2000s, a series of Strategies and Plans for the Agriculture and Environment sector have been issued, specifying the Party's orientation, with the goal of 2030, vision 2045-2050. These include strategies: Sustainable agricultural and rural development; National environmental protection; Marine spatial planning; Forestry development; irrigation... All identify ecological agriculture and a clean environment as the main axis.

The period 2025-2045, with a vision to 2050, is an important turning point for Vietnam to affirm its position as a country of sustainable development. When agriculture and the environment are placed on par with socio-economic pillars, all achievements will be long-term, not trading the future for immediate benefits.

A Vietnam with ecological agriculture and a peaceful environment will not just be a slogan, but will become a reality, where people live in harmony with nature, the economy develops based on renewable resources, and all production and consumption activities aim to balance the ecosystem.

That vision not only aims to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2045), but also ensures a clean, prosperous and sustainable living environment for future generations.

Regarding the orientation of urban and rural development in the new period, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that it is necessary to clearly perceive that urban development and rural development are two strategic tasks that complement and support each other and cannot be separated.

Modern urban areas are the driving force of development, while rich, beautiful, cultural and sustainable rural areas are the solid rear. The relationship between urban and rural areas needs to be planned and organized systematically to ensure balanced and harmonious development.

Witnessed by General Secretary To Lam and President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb, the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding marks a new step forward in cooperation between Vietnam and Finland, opening up many opportunities for practical cooperation in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and climate change response, areas of great significance to the sustainable development goals of the two countries. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA.

Sustainable development - for people, for the future

In his recent policy speech at Oxford University (UK), General Secretary To Lam continued to emphasize Vietnam's development philosophy:

“At the same time, we put people at the center of every development strategy. The main goal is not growth numbers, but improving the quality of life of the people: income, housing, health, education, social security, a safe and clean living environment. We want growth without sacrificing the environment. We want industrialization without losing culture. We want urbanization without leaving anyone behind.”

That is the fundamental development mindset of Vietnam today, rapid growth goes hand in hand with sustainable development; sustainable development is based on knowledge, science - technology and innovation; innovation must bring real, fair and equal benefits to the people.

On that basis, Vietnam sets two 100-year goals:

By 2030, the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam will become a developing country with modern industry and people with high average income.

By 2045, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, strive to become a developed country with high income, civilized society, people with high material and spiritual life, and the country with a worthy position in the international community.

Throughout the viewpoint of General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also emphasized: “The question is how to develop agriculture, improve farmers’ lives, build new rural areas while still protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. This is really a big problem for us.”

That is not only the motto of action, but also the spirit that runs through all policies, plans, and projects that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is implementing. Every grain of rice, every forest canopy, every drop of water, every breath of the environment is under the care of people who are dedicated to their profession and to the people.

Looking back over the past eighty years, it can be affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is not only a State management agency, but also the soul of Vietnam's green economy, where the sweat, intelligence, courage and love for the country of millions of farmers, engineers, scientists and officials crystallize.

From the past to the present and towards the future, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue to be the leading flag in the cause of sustainable development of Vietnam, the origin of prosperity, the place to preserve the harmony between humans and nature, and the pride of the country after eight decades of accompanying the people.

At the conference to deploy the 2025 plan of the Agriculture and Environment sector, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the entire sector to accelerate and make breakthroughs, with the goal of making farmers more prosperous and happier; the countryside more modern; and agriculture more advanced.

The Government leader requested that it is necessary to identify “farmers as the center, subject, resource, and driving force; agriculture as the driving force; rural areas as the foundation”. The Prime Minister believes that in the coming time, the Agriculture and Environment sector will transform even more strongly, producing large-scale goods with high productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness. At the same time, it will contribute to making our country a country with modern, green, ecological, circular, sustainable, transparent, and responsible agriculture, joining the country in entering a new era, an era of national development.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/huong-den-mot-nen-nong-nghiep-va-moi-truong-vi-con-nguoi-d781325.html