Vietnam’s reformist ex-PM dies

HANOI: Former Vietnamese premier Phan Van Khai, who helped strengthen ties with the US and drive market reforms that ignited the communist country’s economy, died yesterday at the age 85, the government said, reports AFP.

A Soviet-trained economist from southern Vietnam, Khai held office for nine years starting in 1997, a period of reform that saw Vietnam transform into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies.

Khai also made history as the country’s first post-war leader to visit Washington in 2005, a landmark trip that helped cement ties between the former war time foes.

A government statement announcing the former premier’s death in the early hours of Saturday hailed his “spirit of innovation”.

 

Vietnams reformist ex-PM dies

HANOI: Former Vietnamese premier Phan Van Khai, who helped strengthen ties with the US and drive market reforms that ignited the communist countrys economy, died yesterday at the age 85, the government said, reports AFP. A Soviet-trained economist from southern Vietnam, Khai held office for nine years starting in 1997, a period of reform that saw Vietnam transform into one of Southeast Asias fastest growing economies. Khai also made history as the countrys first post-war leader to visit Washington in 2005, a landmark trip that helped cement ties between the former war time foes. A government statement announcing the former premiers death in the early hours of Saturday hailed his spirit of innovation.