Politics & Laws
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| Former vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nguyễn Ngọc Trìu. — Photo chinhphu.vn |
HÀ NỘI – The former vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nguyễn Ngọc Trìu, died on Saturday after a long illness, the Vietnam News Agency reported yesterday. He was 91.
Trìu was born in 1926 in Tiền Hải District, Thái Bình Province. At the age of 19, he engaged in revolutionary causes and became a member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam one year later. He was a member of the Party Central Committee for three consecutive tenures, from the 4th to the 6th, and a National Assembly deputy for six terms.
He also served in various significant positions in both local and central Government. The former vice chairman of the Council of Ministers (the post is now called Deputy Prime Minister) was Secretary of the Thái Bình Province’s Party Committee, Minister of Agriculture (now Agriculture and Rural Development), and head of the Central Economic Department (now the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission).
Trìu was deputy minister of agriculture in 1977 and then minister from 1979 to 1987. In his very first task as minister of agriculture, Trìu issued Instruction 339 to liberate the cattle labour force. The Instruction allowed households to raise cows and buffaloes without any quota, and gave the go-ahead for the free trade and slaughtering of the cattle without licence. It also permitted farmers to import cattle for breeds of better quality.
That period witnessed some of the most challenging times for the country’s economy, including the agriculture sector. More than 80 per cent of the country’s population were involved in agricultural production. Trìu was known for his contribution to reforming the country’s backward farming industry.
For his service, Trìu was honoured with the Hồ Chí Minh Order, the 70-year Party membership badge, and many other orders and medals. A national funeral will be held for Trìu. — VNS
