To Lam, the General Secretary of Vietnam’s governing Communist Party, outlined key national priorities, including anti-corruption measures and economic growth targets, during a speech at the party’s twice-a-decade national congress this week. Addressing nearly 1,600 delegates in Hanoi, Lam stated the party’s intention to pursue administrative reform and address corruption.
The weeklong congress is tasked with selecting the country’s top leadership, including the party chief, and establishing economic and policy goals for the period leading up to 2030.
In his address on Tuesday, Lam emphasized that “all wrongdoings must be dealt with” and called for tackling “wastefulness and negativity” within the government. He also spoke on the need to reduce administrative bureaucracy and expand global trade to support Vietnam’s national interests.
According to a document from the Communist Party reviewed by Reuters, a key objective presented at the congress is to achieve an annual economic growth rate of at least 10 percent through 2030. Lam noted that the gathering was taking place amid numerous challenges, citing natural disasters, security risks, and disruptions to global energy and food supply chains.
The state-run Viet Nam News reported that documents presented at the congress called for stricter enforcement of legal discipline. The report mentioned this was a measure to address issues where implementation of laws has been difficult and to combat a perceived gap between policy statements and actions, which it said had affected public trust.
During his speech, Lam said the party is “determined to fight corruption … considering the private sector is an important pillar of the economy.”
The congress will determine if Lam, 68, will retain his role as party chief. Media reports have indicated he may also be selected for the state presidency, a move that would consolidate the two most powerful positions in the country.
Nguyen Khac Giang of Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency that if Lam were to hold both positions, he would have “the strongest mandate for the Vietnamese leadership since the end of the Vietnam War.”
Since assuming office 17 months ago, Lam’s administration has undertaken significant structural changes. These have included the elimination of eight ministries or government agencies and a reduction of nearly 150,000 jobs from the state payroll. The administration has also initiated large-scale infrastructure projects in the rail and power sectors.
