Prime Minister calls for urgent energy security measures amid Middle East conflict, effective action against IUU fishing
WVR/VNA - In Resolution No. 36 of the Government's regular meeting in February 2026, the Prime Minister urged the promotion of industrial and agricultural production, ensuring national energy and food security.
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| The Prime Minister urged the promotion of industrial and agricultural production, ensuring national energy and food security. (Source: VNA) |
On March 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed and issued Resolution No. 36/NQ-CP from the Government's regular meeting in February 2026.
Timely implementing economic-social management and policy response solutions
The resolution clearly states: In the coming time, the global situation is forecasted to remain complex and unpredictable; prolonged geopolitical tensions, military conflicts, and strategic competition among major powers; global economic and trade growth harbor many risks, with potential supply chain disruptions...
For our country, in 2026, while focusing on concretizing and implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress, executing key tasks and solutions for socio-economic development in 2026, including achieving a double-digit growth target, we must also continue to reorganize the apparatus, especially public service units; organize elections for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, and simultaneously address internal difficulties and promptly and effectively respond to arising issues. Additionally, natural disasters and extreme climate change pose significant challenges and pressures on socio-economic development management and direction.
In this context, the Government and the Prime Minister require Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to uphold the spirit of “Constructive State – Pioneering Enterprises – Leading Officials – Public-Private Partnership – National Development – People’s Enjoyment,” continuing to demonstrate responsibility, high determination, great effort, and decisive action, “not wasting a day, not delaying a week, not missing opportunities in a month, not being passive all year,” thoroughly reviewing tasks in March and the first quarter of 2026 to prioritize resources, focus on effective implementation, and create momentum for the following months.
In particular, the Prime Minister requires the comprehensive, timely, and synchronized implementation of the Government's Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress, the Resolutions, Conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; especially the 9 specialized, breakthrough, strategic Resolutions of the Politburo, Resolutions No. 01/NQ-CP, 02/NQ-CP dated January 8, 2026, of the Government, and the Prime Minister's directives. Thoroughly prepare the contents for the 2nd Central Committee Conference of the 14th term, the projects in the working program of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government's work program, and the Prime Minister's work program for 2026 to ensure progress and quality.
Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies should directly oversee the drafting process, actively work, and closely coordinate with relevant agencies of the National Assembly to complete the legal project dossiers and resolutions to be submitted at the first session of the 16th National Assembly.
Accelerate the drafting and issuance of documents detailing the implementation of laws and resolutions of the National Assembly that have taken effect; organize the drafting and submission to the Government and the Prime Minister for issuing documents detailing laws and resolutions effective from April 1, 2026; promptly announce detailed regulations, specific measures to organize, guide the implementation of documents that continue to be effective under the provisions of Clause 2, Article 57 of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents; proactively propose solutions to address legal gaps during the period without detailed regulations. Focus on reviewing specialized legal documents that have been decentralized and delegated in 30 decrees to include in the list of amendments and supplements to related legal documents.
Closely monitor global developments, enhance research, improve forecasting quality, promptly propose economic-social management solutions and appropriate, effective policy responses, adapting to new situations and policy adjustments of other countries; absolutely avoid complacency, negligence, and lack of vigilance.
Proactively, flexibly, timely, and effectively manage monetary policy, closely coordinate with fiscal policy and other macroeconomic policies; ensure liquidity, contribute to controlling inflation, maintaining macroeconomic stability, and meeting capital needs for the economy; direct credit institutions to channel credit into production and business, priority areas, and growth drivers.
Tightly manage the gold market; investigate and assess the real estate market, credit market, and capital market; promote stable, safe, and effective development of the stock market and corporate bonds. Remain steadfast in the goal of maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major economic balances, and promoting rapid, sustainable growth.
Strengthen financial discipline and state budget discipline, combat revenue loss, expand the tax base, especially from e-commerce, food services... Effectively implement tax, fee, charge, and land rent exemption, reduction, and extension policies to support people and businesses.
Plan the allocation and use of increased central budget revenue in 2025; allocate detailed state budget capital plans for 2026 with focus and priority, avoiding dispersion and fragmentation, in line with implementation capacity, reducing the ICOR coefficient; public debt and state budget deficit within prescribed limits.
Save 10% of regular expenditures for social welfare, immediately save 5% of investment expenditures to supplement the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line.
Effectively implement and accelerate the progress, ensuring the quality of national important projects, key energy and transportation projects, inter-provincial, inter-regional, national, regional, and international connectivity projects, national target programs, and 248 investment projects for building inter-level boarding schools in border communes.
Decisively resolve difficulties and obstacles, thoroughly address long-standing projects according to the Government's and Prime Minister's directives in Resolution No. 17/NQ-CP dated January 26, 2026, and Official Dispatch No. 14/CD-TTg dated February 15, 2026, ensuring no project in need of resolution is overlooked; regularly submit written reports to the Ministry of Finance and update the handling results for projects that ministries, central agencies, and localities proactively handle under their authority on system 751 by the 25th of each month. Urgently implement the "Dong Khe Campaign 2026," executing 85 days and nights of the highest effort and acceleration to complete the Dong Dang - Tra Linh and Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressways on the occasion of the 136th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.
Decisively implement effective measures against IUU fishing
The Prime Minister requires the promotion of industrial and agricultural production, ensuring national energy and food security.
Effectively implement planning, ensure synchronization, closely link strategic infrastructure investment with exploiting new development corridors; complete the legal framework for planning; review and adjust urban, rural, and sectoral planning according to regulations.
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| The Prime Minister demands decisive and effective implementation of tasks and solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for sustainable fisheries development. (Source: Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper) |
Boost trade promotion, control prices, develop the domestic market, striving for a 13% to 15% increase in total retail sales of goods and service revenue in 2026.
Urgently negotiate and sign free trade agreements (FTAs) at the beginning of 2026 with countries already planned for negotiation and signing, especially with countries like Brazil, South America, Algeria...; effectively exploit signed FTAs; continue negotiating a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States as directed by competent authorities, promoting goods exports.
Effectively implement social welfare work, healthcare, and improve the material and spiritual life of the people. Monitor and grasp labor and employment situations, ensuring no disruption in labor supply; develop high-quality human resources.
Address air pollution, proactively respond to climate change, prevent and combat natural disasters, and protect the environment. Organize production, use energy efficiently; ensure electricity and fuel supply in all situations.
Decisively implement effective measures and solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for sustainable fisheries development.
Continue to strengthen and enhance national defense capabilities, maintain political security, social order, and safety; effectively conduct inspection, citizen reception, complaint resolution, and anti-corruption, negative practices, and waste; promote administrative procedure reduction and simplification, provide online public services for people and businesses.
Effectively utilize the Government's Steering Committees and Task Forces. Strengthen administrative discipline and labor discipline; effectively coordinate work between ministries, agencies, and localities; thoroughly address delays in responding to requests for opinions.
Organize foreign affairs activities well; promote deep, substantive, and effective international integration. Enhance policy communication, create social consensus; promptly counter false, hostile views, fake news, malicious information, and distorted arguments from hostile forces.
Fully prepare conditions for elections
Regarding the Report on Election Preparation for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, the Government basically agrees with Report No. 1831/BC-BNV dated March 3, 2026, of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the election preparation for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.
The Government, Prime Minister, ministries, agencies, and localities have synchronously and promptly implemented tasks within their authority. To date, the election preparation progress ensures the legal deadlines; propaganda work, ensuring security, order, and social safety have been proactively deployed, creating an important foundation for successfully completing tasks and work in the peak period before the election day.
The time from now until Election Day is not much and is a very important period that determines the success of the election for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.
To comply with the provisions of the Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils, ensuring the successful election, truly a festival for the entire people, the Government, Prime Minister requires ministries, ministerial-level agencies, People's Committees at all levels to continue strictly implementing Directive No. 46-CT/TW dated May 16, 2025, of the Politburo on leading the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, Conclusion No. 03-KL/TW dated February 23, 2026, of the Politburo, the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 46-CT/TW; the direction and guidance of the National Election Council, most recently in document No. 163/HĐBCQG dated February 27, 2026; closely follow the legal deadlines, strengthen inspection, urging, ensuring the organization of the election according to regulations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs presides over, coordinates with the Office of the National Election Council and related agencies to guide, direct, and enhance election training, monitor, summarize the situation, and promptly report to the Government, Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Science and Technology, according to their functions and assigned tasks, ensure funding, facilities, information technology infrastructure, security, and safety for the election; promote the application of the National Database on Population and digital platforms.
The Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, and People's Committees at all levels proactively implement measures to ensure political security, order, and social safety; review, accurately update voter lists, fully prepare conditions for the election, promote propaganda, proactively handle arising situations, ensuring the election is democratic, lawful, safe, and successful.
Ensure fuel supply for domestic production and consumption
Regarding urgent solutions in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Prime Minister agreed to apply the provisions of Clause 8, Article 59 of the Petroleum Law 2022, requiring oil owners to sell their crude oil in the Vietnamese market for crude oil/condensate types (not yet contracted for export) suitable with the needs and processing technology of domestic refineries.
Authorize the Minister of Finance to direct the Members' Council of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) (on behalf of the Government) to decide on specific contents, ensuring flexibility, effectiveness, and compliance with the law on petroleum.
The Prime Minister allows PVN and its member units operating in crude oil processing and trading (Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, Vietnam Oil Corporation) to conduct crude oil trading, import, and export of crude oil and raw materials for fuel production.
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| The Prime Minister agrees for the Ministry of Industry and Trade to take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, to immediately apply fuel price adjustments after this Government resolution is issued. (Source: Industry and Trade Newspaper) |
The Prime Minister authorizes the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to be responsible for state management and represent ownership of capital shares, directing PVN and corporations in crisis conditions; the Ministries must take responsibility for state management according to their authority and decisions.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to its authority, should thoroughly review and proactively take measures to ensure fuel supply meets domestic production and consumption requirements; prevent fuel shortages; promptly report, propose, and recommend issues beyond its authority.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade takes the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, to direct the Vietnam Electricity Group, PVN, and related units to agree on principles to maximize the use of domestic gas for power generation and have a swap mechanism for using domestic gas instead of imported LNG, ensuring compliance with electricity law and related regulations, minimizing risks of fuel supply shortages for power production, increasing condensate/crude oil extraction output (up according to gas), ensuring national energy security.
The Prime Minister agrees for the Ministry of Industry and Trade to take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, to immediately apply fuel price adjustments after this Government resolution is issued when the base fuel price of one of the commonly consumed fuel items in the market increases by 7% compared to the base fuel price announced in the previous consecutive adjustment period.
The management of fuel prices and the announcement of base fuel prices are carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, after the base fuel price increases by 7%.
When the base fuel price increases by less than 7% compared to the base price announced in the previous consecutive adjustment period, fuel price management will continue to be implemented according to the provisions of Clause 11, Article 1 of Decree No. 80/2023/ND-CP (every Thursday).
Based on data on the components of the base fuel price according to regulations and the opinions on fuel price management from the Ministry of Finance sent in writing before 12:00 on the fuel price management day, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announces the base price and fuel selling price.
The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and related agencies, urgently drafts a Decree amending the preferential import tax rates (MFN) for certain fuel items in the Preferential Import Tariff Schedule issued with Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP dated May 31, 2023, of the Government on Export Tariff, Preferential Import Tariff, List of Goods, and absolute tax, mixed tax, out-of-quota import tax according to streamlined procedures, submitted to the Government on March 7, 2026.
In case domestic refineries cannot ensure the fuel output sold according to contracts signed with key fuel trading enterprises, and fuel imports face difficulties causing fuel supply shortages for the domestic market, the Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Industry and Trade to assess the balance of domestic fuel supply and demand, direct key fuel trading enterprises to use their circulating fuel reserves or release national reserve fuel according to authority and legal provisions on national reserves to compensate for market shortages.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for state management and its proposed data and content, enhancing supervision and inspection, preventing negative exploitation of policies as proposed.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Science and Technology, according to their functions, tasks, and authority, urgently take the lead, in coordination with related agencies, to research and review standards and regulations on biofuels, and the conditions to soon implement the roadmap for biofuel transition, contributing to reducing mineral fuel consumption.
(Source: WVR/VNA)
