Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has re-elected To Lam as its General Secretary, the top position in the country, at the conclusion of the National Party Congress, the nation’s most important political gathering. No announcement was made regarding whether Lam will also assume the presidency, a combination that would make him Vietnam’s most powerful leader in decades, drawing comparisons to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Congress, attended by nearly 1,600 delegates, focused on shaping Vietnam’s political and economic trajectory through 2031. A key discussion centered on the goal of transforming Vietnam into a high-income economy by 2045, with a target of average annual GDP growth of 10% or more between 2026 and 2030.
The conclave also confirmed senior appointments, electing 19 members to the Politburo, the country’s top decision-making body. These decisions set the tone for governance priorities, balancing domestic reforms with the pressures of a turbulent global environment marked by U.S.-China trade tensions and challenges to the established international order.
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Under Lam’s leadership, Vietnam has emerged as a global manufacturing hub, particularly in electronics, textiles, and footwear. Poverty rates have declined, and the middle class is expanding rapidly. Simultaneously, the country faces challenges including an aging population, climate risks, weak institutions, and the need to maintain balanced relations with major global powers.
Lam, who previously served decades in the Ministry of Public Security and became its minister in 2016, has overseen major bureaucratic and economic reforms. These include reducing tens of thousands of public-sector jobs, redrawing administrative boundaries to accelerate decision-making, and launching large infrastructure projects across the country.
He also led an anti-corruption campaign initiated by his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, which saw the Politburo lose six of its 18 members, including two former presidents and the parliamentary head. Lam’s continued leadership signals a focus on economic transformation, administrative efficiency, and maintaining political stability as Vietnam navigates complex regional and global challenges.
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