Vietnam vows to tackle corruption

HANOI - A national conference of the Communist Party of Vietnam opened on Tuesday to discuss how to tackle the growing problem of corruption in the country.

CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong called on party members to "step up the fight against corruption and wastefulness", according to Vietnam News Agency.

"These are issues of great concern and pose the biggest risks for the ruling party," said Trong at the opening of the three-day meeting, attended by around 1,000 delegates, including the party's executive, the Politburo.

Party members must avoid falling into the traps of "individualism and selfishness", he said.

Rising income inequality poses a major threat to the party's support, as "some (party) members have become rich so quickly, with living conditions miles away from that of workers", Trong added.

The party has some 3.7 million members out of a nation of approximately 86 million.

Trong said the party would retain its key leadership role in the country, but called for internal reforms.

"This is a vital task for our party and our government," he said, warning that the party was under attack from "hostile forces" and calling on all party members to undertake "self-criticism" seriously.

Trong called for a ballot of party members to identify under-performing officials who could, he said, be removed.

AFP-China Daily