The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam begins in Hanoi on January 25, 2021, with a preparatory session.

The Strait Times of Singapore reported that delegates will shape policy for the next five years and pick a new leadership team in nine days of meetings. The daily newspaper applauded Vietnam’s economic achievements and success in keeping the COVID-19 pandemic at bay in 2020, a bright spot in Asia. Vietnam is eyeing an annual GDP growth of 7% in five years’ time, it said.

According to The Star of Malaysia, the Congress is attended by the largest number of delegates, who will review the Resolution adopted at the previous Party Congress, the “Doi moi” (Renewal) policies in the last 35 years, and the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for the 2011-2020 period. Participants will also outline socio-economic development targets and orientations for the next five years and a national development vision to 2045, it said.