The reappointment of Vietnam’s top leader could slow the country’s shift to a more open economy, UO associate professor of political science Tuong Vu says in a feature article in The New York Times.

Vu was interviewed about the announcement by the Community Party of Vietnam that Nguyen Phu Trong would remain in the general secretary job. Trong was selected over Nguyen Tan Dung.

“All factions agree on a need to have more trade and investment,” he said. “But the Trong faction would resist any concessions, whereas the Dung faction would try to make the gesture of reform to keep money coming in.”

For the full story, see “Vietnam’s Communist Party Gives Old-Guard Leader a New 5-Year Term” in The New York Times.