Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh and projects racing against time.

From the day he assumed the position of Deputy Prime Minister until his passing at 8:20 PM on August 22, 2023, Mr. Le Van Thanh held the leadership role in the Government for 2 years and 4 months.

Mr. Le Van Thanh was approved by the National Assembly to be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister on April 8, 2021.

During his time as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Le Van Thanh was assigned to oversee the following areas: Industry, agriculture and rural development; trade - import and export; construction; transportation; resources and environment; national master planning, regional planning, and provincial planning; energy security, and efficient energy use.

In addition, he is also in charge of key national projects; basic construction investment projects according to the legal classification; economic zones, industrial zones, and export processing zones; flood and storm prevention and control, search and rescue; and climate change response strategies.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh oversees and directs the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Construction, Transport, and Natural Resources and Environment.

Mr. Le Van Thanh's most recent activity was attending the meeting of the State Steering Committee for National Key Projects and Projects in the Transport Sector at the Government headquarters on the afternoon of November 16, 2022.

On November 21, 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a Decision assigning responsibilities for directing and resolving matters while Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh was abroad. Mr. Thanh's duties were assumed by two other Deputy Prime Ministers from that date onwards.

In January 2023, the areas previously under Mr. Thanh's responsibility were officially assigned by the Prime Minister to other Deputy Prime Ministers, a role they have held to this day.

Racing against time

During his more than two years as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Le Van Thanh repeatedly chaired numerous conferences to expedite key transportation projects such as the North-South Expressway and Long Thanh Airport.

With the Long Thanh airport project,Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh consistently reminded ministries, departments, and localities: "This is a key project; anyone who is slow and affects the progress should step aside, and let others do it."

At times, unwilling to accept the slow pace of work, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh requested the investor to innovate their thinking and methods, and promised to work closely with all parties to ensure the progress of Long Thanh airport. He also advised, "You all should try to keep the commitments you have made."

During the Government Steering Committee meeting on the implementation of the Long Thanh International Airport project on June 14, 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh noted: "If the contractor is short of staff, they should be supplemented; if they are slow, they should be replaced immediately. The project should be implemented in three shifts, and there should be absolutely no stoppage or interruption of construction."

Regarding the North-South Expressway project,Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh also chaired numerous meetings with ministries, departments, and localities to expedite everything from land clearance to material preparation, etc.

He consistently demanded that ministries, departments, and localities make genuine efforts, act decisively, and innovate to "race against time" to meet deadlines and avoid missing opportunities for national development.

"The government and the Prime Minister are determined and will work alongside localities to ensure quality and timely completion," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.

On June 9, 2022, before the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh pledged: "The Government is highly determined to achieve the goals of building the expressway."

In 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh personally inspected the progress of several expressway projects: Ben Luc-Long Thanh; Mai Son - National Highway 45, Cam Lo - La Son, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay; Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang…

One notable activity of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh was his leadership in disaster prevention and control.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh and his delegation inspected and supervised the work of preventing and responding to Typhoon No. 4 in Quang Tri province and chaired a meeting to review the response to Typhoon No. 4 right at the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee headquarters.

After that, he went to Thua Thien Hue to inspect and direct the work of preventing and responding to typhoon No. 4 from the headquarters of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue.

At approximately 0:00 on September 28, 2022, from the command center of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh convened a meeting of various locations to report on the developments and impacts of the storm.

Mr. Le Van Thanh was born on October 20, 1962, in Tan Lien commune, Vinh Bao district, Hai Phong city; he holds a Master's degree in Economic Management.

He was a member of the Central Committee of the Party in the 12th and 13th terms; and a member of the National Assembly in the 12th term.

He rose through the ranks from an accounting officer and held various leadership and management positions at the Hai Phong Cement Plant, eventually serving as Director of the Hai Phong Cement Company and Head of the Hai Phong Cement Urban Area Project Management Board until July 2010.

He then served as Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City from July 2010 to December 2014 and became Chairman of the city from December 2014 to June 2016.

From July 2016 to April 2021, he served as Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Hai Phong City.

He has held the position of Deputy Prime Minister since April 2021.