Vietnam's top leader yesterday vowed to accelerate economic reforms and tackle corruption while defending the role of the Communist Party in the country's development.
General Secretary Nong Duc Manh emerged from his party's congress with a fresh five-year term at the head of a significantly younger team in the ruling Politburo, acknowledging 'very frank opinions' from the public and foreign investors on the party's future role after 20 years of reform.
Mr Manh also spoke of a growing rich-poor divide and the need to ensure stability in the push to industrialise by 2020 and lift Vietnam's 83 million people out of poverty within four years.
He said renewal and stability were forces behind development, hinting at the party's juggling act as it tries to drive growth and modernisation while clinging to its monopoly on power.
'The whole party, people and army will strive for ... comprehensive reform, bringing our country out of underdevelopment and creating a foundation for industrialisation,' he said.
His comments came after the close of the eight-day congress that saw unprecedented internal debate and voting powers extended across 1,176 national representatives.