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| Vietnam set to pick new leaders as congress begins | Vietnam set to pick new leaders as congress begins |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Vietnam's Communist Party delegates are meeting in Hanoi to begin the process of choosing a new set of leaders. | Vietnam's Communist Party delegates are meeting in Hanoi to begin the process of choosing a new set of leaders. |
| The congress, which happens once every five years in the one-party state, will run for eight days. | The congress, which happens once every five years in the one-party state, will run for eight days. |
| Behind closed doors, the 1,500 members will nominate the next president, the prime minister, and most importantly, the party's general secretary. | Behind closed doors, the 1,500 members will nominate the next president, the prime minister, and most importantly, the party's general secretary. |
| Who wins could determine Vietnam's relations with key partners including the US and China. | Who wins could determine Vietnam's relations with key partners including the US and China. |
| Media, which is closely controlled in Vietnam, are not allowed to cover the congress except for the opening ceremony. | |
| On Thursday, top leaders gave brief speeches emphasising the need to build Vietnam's economic prosperity, and also reviewed the leadership of the central committee, reported newspaper Viet Nam News. | |
| 'Ominous' turtle death on the eve of congress - Nga Pham, BBC News | |
| Vietnam is mourning an ancient turtle whose death has shocked the country. | Vietnam is mourning an ancient turtle whose death has shocked the country. |
| Thought to be one of only four living Yangtze giant softshell turtles, Cu Rua was found floating in the Hanoi lake where it lived. Cause of death is unclear. | Thought to be one of only four living Yangtze giant softshell turtles, Cu Rua was found floating in the Hanoi lake where it lived. Cause of death is unclear. |
| To many of Hanoi's residents, Cu Rua was more than a charming local character - its appearances at the same time as some of the country's biggest events, such as Hanoi's 1,000-year anniversary, were seen as auspicious - while ailments were seen as ominous signs. | To many of Hanoi's residents, Cu Rua was more than a charming local character - its appearances at the same time as some of the country's biggest events, such as Hanoi's 1,000-year anniversary, were seen as auspicious - while ailments were seen as ominous signs. |
| The issue of Cu Rua's death was so delicate that state censors briefly tried to prevent the news from being reported. | The issue of Cu Rua's death was so delicate that state censors briefly tried to prevent the news from being reported. |
| "To cheerfully welcome the party congress, newspapers and media please do not report on the turtle's death for now," the party's propaganda department instructed. | "To cheerfully welcome the party congress, newspapers and media please do not report on the turtle's death for now," the party's propaganda department instructed. |
| Hanoi's grief over the death of a legend | Hanoi's grief over the death of a legend |
| The competition for the general secretary job pits current Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, seen as modern and friendly towards the US, against party stalwart and incumbent, Nguyen Phu Trong. | The competition for the general secretary job pits current Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, seen as modern and friendly towards the US, against party stalwart and incumbent, Nguyen Phu Trong. |
| Mr Dung has gained popularity domestically with strong anti-China rhetoric when it comes to disputed territory in the South China Sea. | |
| Mr Trong is seen to be more friendly towards China - Vietnam's largest trading partner. | Mr Trong is seen to be more friendly towards China - Vietnam's largest trading partner. |
| The congress takes place amid resurgent tension with China. On Tuesday, Vietnam said it had demanded China remove a controversial oil rig parked in waters claimed by both countries. | |
| In 2014, Beijing moved the same rig into contested waters, sparking violent anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam. | |
| Delegates at the Congress will set key policies for the next five years, including on Vietnam's economic strategy. | Delegates at the Congress will set key policies for the next five years, including on Vietnam's economic strategy. |
| They will also elect a new central committee. Near the end of the event, that new committee will elect a politburo from within its ranks and select one person as party general secretary. | They will also elect a new central committee. Near the end of the event, that new committee will elect a politburo from within its ranks and select one person as party general secretary. |
| The prime minister, president and national assembly chairman - the three other top positions - will be nominated, but their formal selection is made by the national assembly, which is not elected for another six months. | The prime minister, president and national assembly chairman - the three other top positions - will be nominated, but their formal selection is made by the national assembly, which is not elected for another six months. |