Vietnam plenum begins key meeting

Vietnam plenum begins key meeting

HANOI (Reuters): The powerful central committee of Vietnam's
ruling Communist Party has begun a key meeting that will address
the future of state ownership and integration into the world
economy, official media reported on Tuesday.

The state-controlled Vietnam News Agency said the 170-member
committee gathered for the meeting in Hanoi on Monday. It is
expected to last more than a week.

VNA said the plenum heard an opening speech by Party General
Secretary Le Kha Phieu, and politburo member Nguyen Phu Trong
reported on four key issues included in a draft document to be
submitted to the Communist Party's Ninth Congress next year.

VNA said politburo member Nguyen Van An also presented a
report on amendments to party regulations to be submitted to the
ninth congress, which is expected to held in March.

Congresses are the supreme gatherings in Vietnam's political
calendar, setting the tone for the next five years and beyond.