Vietnamese top leaders to step down for younger ones

Vietnam's prime minister, state president and chairman of the National Assembly (NA) officially submitted their resignations on Saturday, making way for a new generation of leaders.

On Saturday morning, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, State President and Chairman of the Defense and Security Council Tran Duc Luong, and NA Chairman Nguyen Van An read their letters of resignation at the ongoing ninth session of the NA, the country's highest legislative body, Vietnam News Agency reported.

On Saturday morning, at the session, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Nong Duc Manh, pointed out the necessity of rearranging some high-ranking posts since Khai, born in 1933, Luong, 1937, and An, 1937, had submitted their resignations due to age factor.

Manh highly appreciated contributions of the three leaders, which have helped Vietnam gain socioeconomic achievements during its renovation process, and raise the country's status in the international arena.

The NA deputies are to vote for the resignations (accept or reject) on Saturday. Results of the voting will be announced on Monday morning.

The NA, from June 24-29, is to consider and decide the posts of state president, NA chairman, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, six ministers and chief of the Government Inspectorate. The six ministerial posts involve the ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Transport, Culture and Information, and Education and Training.

In mid-May, when having informal talks with reporters on the sidelines of the NA's ninth session, Khai, who has acted as prime minister since September 1997 after serving as deputy prime minister between July 1991 and August 1997, implied that he had nominated Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung as his successor.

During its ongoing ninth session from May 16 to June 29, the NA, besides the personnel matters, is to focus on approving some 10 bills and giving opinions to 13 others, and reviewing reports of governments on major socioeconomic issues.

Source: Xinhua