To Lam, Vietnam’s top leader, has been unanimously reappointed as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party for another five-year term. The move strengthens his position as the most powerful figure in the country’s one-party system, Reuters reported.
At age 68, Lam was re-elected on Friday by all 180 members of the party’s new central committee at the end of its five-year congress, according to an official statement. The National Party Congress also set key economic and political goals for the next term.
In his speech, Lam called for further reforms, including changes within the party, to improve governance based on «integrity, talent, courage and competence.» Earlier in the week, he promised to aim for annual economic growth of more than 10% over the decade, a target later included in a party resolution.
Lam is also seeking to become Vietnam’s president, a position currently held by an army general. Experts believe that if Lam holds both roles, it would follow the example of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and mark a significant shift for Vietnam, which has traditionally depended on collective leadership and internal checks.
