Vietnam Communists Set Growth Goal, Warn on Inflation

 Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Vietnam’s ruling party set economic growth targets for the next decade at the National Congress to choose top leaders as members warned about the need to curb inflation and address mismanagement among state-owned firms.

“We must pay attention to the quality and efficiency of growth and sustainable development,” Communist Party Chief Nong Duc Manh said in opening remarks in Hanoi yesterday, where the eight days of meetings are being held. “We must combine economic growth with social progress and equality.”

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US diplomat attacked by Vietnamese police

The US has registered a protest with the Vietnamese government after it said one of its diplomats was manhandelled and detained by police in central Vietnam.

Radio Free Asia, which is funded by Washington, reported on Thursday that the diplomat was trying to visit the home of a Vietnamese dissident in the city of Hue when police stopped him.

Christian Marchant, a political officer at the US embassy in the capital Hanoi, continued to try to reach Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, with whom he had an appointment, and was reportedly then wrestled to the ground and driven away in a police car.

"It's a clear violation of the Vienna Convention" which governs the protection of diplomats, a US official, who declined to be named, said. "We're quite concerned by it."

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