Newly re-elected Vietnamese communist party Secretary General Nong Duc Manh answers journalists' questions during a press conference held after the closing of the VCP's 10th national congress in Hanoi. Manh was appointed to another five-year term at the end of a national congress in which the ruling party resolved to push economic reforms and fight corruption.(AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam)Tue Apr 25
Vietnam's Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh was appointed to another five-year term at the end of a national congress in which the ruling party resolved to push economic reforms and fight corruption.
Manh, 65, remains at the helm of the party's powerful politburo that is the governing nerve centre of Vietnam, one of the world's five remaining communist states and Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy.
Party sources also said deputy premier Nguyen Tan Dung, 56, was set to take over as prime minister, replacing his long-time mentor Phan Van Khai, who is retiring as prime minister at age 72.
Top government posts in the one-party state are recommended by the politburo but formally confirmed by the national assembly, which is due to meet for its next session in May.
Almost 1,200 party delegates early Tuesday met in central Hanoi's Ba Dinh Hall, across from the mausoleum of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, for the final day of the eight-day congress.
With its customary secrecy born in the anti-colonial struggle and Vietnam War, the party waited until early Tuesday to officially announce the protocol order and full line-up of the new 14-member politburo.
Of the former 14 politburo members, only six stayed. Party sources said that for the first time since 1975, the order of the published list was not strictly based on political ranking.
Dung, a southerner with wide connections in the party, military and police and a stint as state bank chief under his belt, has long been expected to take over as premier.
"Being the youngest member of the politburo since the previous party congress in 2001, Nguyen Tan Dung has been prepared and trained for many years to become the prime minister," said a party official.
"He is the only and favourite candidate for the position. He has no political rivals after being a member of the politburo and the standing deputy prime minister for five years."
Former Ho Chi Minh City party chief Nguyen Minh Triet, 63, was still considered the favorite by party analysts to replace retiring President Tran Duc Luong, 68, at an upcoming legislative session.
In the group photograph taken at the end of the ceremony in the hall, Mahn stood in the centre, flanked by Dung and Triet.
Manh's new team faces tough challenges in the months ahead.
The party has pledged to continue economic reforms and speed up growth in the nation of 83 million people, where more than one million new job seekers enter the labour market every year.
"The whole party, people and army will strive for... comprehensive reform, bringing our country out of underdevelopment and creating a foundation for our country to become an industrialised nation by 2020," said Manh.
"Our country is still poor," he later told a press conference. "The life of the people in remote areas is still difficult."
Vietnam, which booked 8.4 percent GDP growth last year, hopes to join the World Trade Organisation before November, when it will host its largest ever international event, an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The party has also pledged to address red tape and graft that is seen as endemic within Vietnam's bureaucracy.
The congress was held in the shadow of a corruption scandal in which transport ministry officials embezzled millions of dollars to buy lavish homes and cars and bet on European football.
The affair has fuelled public anger and embarrassed Vietnam because some of the fleeced money was development aid from major donors, including Japan and the World Bank.
Manh pledged in his closing speech to push "the fight against corruption and bureaucracy. We are determined to fight this social evil to purify our organisation and the system."
Manh, 65, remains at the helm of the party's powerful politburo that is the governing nerve centre of Vietnam, one of the world's five remaining communist states and Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy.
Party sources also said deputy premier Nguyen Tan Dung, 56, was set to take over as prime minister, replacing his long-time mentor Phan Van Khai, who is retiring as prime minister at age 72.
Top government posts in the one-party state are recommended by the politburo but formally confirmed by the national assembly, which is due to meet for its next session in May.
Almost 1,200 party delegates early Tuesday met in central Hanoi's Ba Dinh Hall, across from the mausoleum of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, for the final day of the eight-day congress.
With its customary secrecy born in the anti-colonial struggle and Vietnam War, the party waited until early Tuesday to officially announce the protocol order and full line-up of the new 14-member politburo.
Of the former 14 politburo members, only six stayed. Party sources said that for the first time since 1975, the order of the published list was not strictly based on political ranking.
Dung, a southerner with wide connections in the party, military and police and a stint as state bank chief under his belt, has long been expected to take over as premier.
"Being the youngest member of the politburo since the previous party congress in 2001, Nguyen Tan Dung has been prepared and trained for many years to become the prime minister," said a party official.
"He is the only and favourite candidate for the position. He has no political rivals after being a member of the politburo and the standing deputy prime minister for five years."
Former Ho Chi Minh City party chief Nguyen Minh Triet, 63, was still considered the favorite by party analysts to replace retiring President Tran Duc Luong, 68, at an upcoming legislative session.
In the group photograph taken at the end of the ceremony in the hall, Mahn stood in the centre, flanked by Dung and Triet.
Manh's new team faces tough challenges in the months ahead.
The party has pledged to continue economic reforms and speed up growth in the nation of 83 million people, where more than one million new job seekers enter the labour market every year.
"The whole party, people and army will strive for... comprehensive reform, bringing our country out of underdevelopment and creating a foundation for our country to become an industrialised nation by 2020," said Manh.
"Our country is still poor," he later told a press conference. "The life of the people in remote areas is still difficult."
Vietnam, which booked 8.4 percent GDP growth last year, hopes to join the World Trade Organisation before November, when it will host its largest ever international event, an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The party has also pledged to address red tape and graft that is seen as endemic within Vietnam's bureaucracy.
The congress was held in the shadow of a corruption scandal in which transport ministry officials embezzled millions of dollars to buy lavish homes and cars and bet on European football.
The affair has fuelled public anger and embarrassed Vietnam because some of the fleeced money was development aid from major donors, including Japan and the World Bank.
Manh pledged in his closing speech to push "the fight against corruption and bureaucracy. We are determined to fight this social evil to purify our organisation and the system."
3 comments:
Xamer got to follow master Hanoi approach to move economy and uproot cooruption.First keep Chea Sim as CPP President and definitely drop Hun Sen as Prime Minister. 20 years is enough,he is rich enough to die wealthy.
Sar Kheng is more stable, humble unlike Hun Sen a Khmer Rouge cadre .Let's give him a lift to Prime Minster chair to see if he can get rid of corruption before 2008.
All communists and dictators are corrupt, whether new or old.
Look at China, Vietnam, Suharto's Indonesia, Putin's Russia, Saddam Hussein's Iraq, CPP's Cambodia, they all wear the same clothes and walk the same path--they all oppress humankinds, are corrupt to the core, and ruled by force.
Only democracy can fix them once and for all.
Will the Khmers living on their ownl soil called Kampuchea Krom from this continue leadership and economic reform...?
12 millions Khmer Kampuchea Krom.
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