New Delhi, Jan. 24 -- To Lam was reelected Friday as general secretary of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party and appears poised to become the country's most powerful figure in decades, with analysts expecting him to assume the presidency in a break from Vietnam's tradition of collective leadership.

Lam, 68, pledged to accelerate economic growth and was reappointed unanimously by the 180-member Central Committee at the conclusion of the National Party Congress that ran from Monday through Friday.

No formal announcement was made about the presidency. But the composition of the newly elected 19-member Politburo, the party's top decision-making body, "strongly suggests" Lam will further concentrate his power with the presidency, said Le Hong ...