The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam announced on Friday (July 19) the passing of the General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, Nguyen Phu Trong, due to old age and serious illness at the age of 80. The official Vietnamese sources did not provide details on Trong’s health condition.
According to the medical team of Nguyen Phu Trong, he passed away early Friday morning.
Nguyen Phu Trong had been serving as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam since 2011 and was the President of Vietnam from 2018 to 2020.
Reports indicate that in recent months, Nguyen Phu Trong had appeared physically weak in public appearances or had directly been absent from events. On Thursday, his position as General Secretary was taken over by the President of Vietnam, To Lam.
During Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership in Vietnam for over a decade, the country achieved rapid economic growth. He also cultivated a moderate image for himself, practiced what is known as “bamboo diplomacy,” maneuvering between the United States and China, advocating for “making more friends and fewer enemies.”
Last September, President Joe Biden visited Hanoi, and Vietnam elevated the United States to the highest diplomatic level alongside China, Russia, India, and South Korea. Three months later, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam further strengthened relations between Vietnam and Beijing.
In June of this year, Vietnam welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and elevated Japan to the highest diplomatic status last year.
Since initiating economic reforms in 1986, Vietnam transitioned from a war-torn agricultural country to one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. Under Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership, the Vietnamese economy continued to flourish.
Over the past decade, Vietnam’s GDP grew by an average of 5.8% annually, even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, while economies in other regions suffered significant setbacks.
Starting from 2017, Nguyen Phu Trong launched an anti-corruption campaign known as the “blazing furnace,” which resulted in the arrest or forced resignation of numerous high-ranking officials, including the removal of two Presidents, with the latest one being in March of this year. These developments caused uneasiness among foreign investors, worrying that the anti-corruption movement had spiraled out of control.
However, corruption and bribery were not completely eradicated. Many critics condemned Trong’s anti-corruption efforts as being “Chinese-style” and politically motivated. Human rights organizations accused him of further suppressing dissenting voices, including imprisoning activists, journalists, and social media users.
During his second five-year term, Nguyen Phu Trong consolidated his hold on power. Despite health issues, he oversaw the modification of the rule that limited the Party chairman to two terms and secured a third term in 2021. He served as the Party leader for 13 years, second only to Le Duan’s 26 years of iron-fisted rule.
(This article was referenced from Reuters)