VietNamNet Bridge – The XI Politburo has had two new members: Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, 59 and Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, 60, bringing the total number of members to 16.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan.

After 10 working days, along with the discussion of important issues, the meeting of the Party Central Committee elected two additional Politburo members: Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan, a member of the Party Central Committee, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chair of the National Assembly.

Mr. Tran Quoc Vuong, member of the Party Central Committee, Chair of the Party Central Committee’s Office was also elected to the Party Central Committee's Secretariat.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, 59 years old, a native of Ben Tre province, is a holder of master degree on economics and bachelor on politics, a member of the Party Central Committee of the 9th, 10th and 11th tenures, Secretary of the 11th Party Central Committee, deputy of the 12th National Assembly.

She served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Trade. In 2007, Ngan was elected Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Ngan was widely known for her participation in the rescue of Vietnamese workers in Libya in 2011.

"In this rescue, there is no bargain of money and conditions with the countries in this region. The top priority is to quickly bring Vietnamese workers home safely," the first statement made by Ngan when the campaign to rescue Vietnamese workers started reassured the families of thousands of Vietnamese workers in Libya. In fact, more than 10,000 Vietnam workers returned home safely in a month later.

Served as the Vice President of the National Assembly from mid-2011, she was appreciated for her smart, sharp, decisive control of the session of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, 60, a native of Tra Vinh province, is a professor of economics, cybernetics doctor, community management master degree holder, a member of the 10th, 11th Party Central Committee, a deputy of the 10th, 11th, 12th National Assembly.

He was Vice Chair of HCM City People's Committee before becoming the Minister of Education and Training in 2006. In August 2007, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister (cum Minister of Education until 2010) and continued to be held as the Deputy PM at the first session 13th National Assembly in 2011.

Nguyen Thien Nhan was known for the two campaigns that he launched as the Minister of Education and Training in 2006 and 2010 to improve the education sector.

In his capacity as Deputy PM, he is capable of making speech or answering questions of the NA deputies. He also expressed confidence in communicating in English with foreign partners.

Brief biographies of 16 members of the 11th Politburo (in alphabet order)

1. Mr. Le Hong Anh (born 1949, a native of Kien Giang), permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, member of the 9th, 10th, 11th Politburo. He was Party Secretary of Kien Giang Province, Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee, the Minister of Public Security.

2. Mr Nguyen Tan Dung (born 1949, a native of Ca Mau), Prime Minister, a member of the Politburo of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th terms. Mr. Dung was the Party Secretary of Kien Giang province, Deputy Interior Minister, the Governor of the State Bank and the Deputy Prime Minister.

3. Mr. Ngo Van Du (born 1947, a native of Vinh Phuc), Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee, a member of the 11th Politburo. Mr. Du served as Chair of the Office of the Party Central Committee.

4. Mr. Le Thanh Hai (born 1950, a native of Tien Giang), Party Secretary of HCM City, a Politburo member of the 10th and 11th tenures. Mr. Hai served as the Commander of the HCM City Young Volunteer Forces, Deputy Party Secretary, and Chairman of HCM City People's Committee.

5. Mr. Nguyen Sinh Hung (born 1946, a native of Nghe An), Chairman of the National Assembly, a member of the 10th and 11th Politburo. Mr. Hung served as the director of the State Treasury, the Finance Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.

6. Mr. Dinh The Huynh (born 1953, a native of Nam Dinh), head of the Central Propaganda Committee, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, member of the 11th Politburo. Mr. Huynh was the chief editor of the Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper and Chair of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association.

7. Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan (born 1953, a native of Tra Vinh), Deputy Prime Minister, Politburo member of the 11th tenure. Mr. Nhan was Vice Chair of HCM City People's Committee and the Minister of Education and Training.

8. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (born 1954, a native of Ben Tre), Vice President of the National Assembly, member of the 11th Politburo. Ngan served as Party Secretary of Hai Duong province, Vice Minister of Commerce, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

9. Mr. Pham Quang Nghi (born 1949, a native of Thanh Hoa), Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, a member of the 10th, 11th Politburo. Mr. Nghi was Deputy Chief of the Ideology – Culture Committee of the Party Central Committee, Party Secretary of Ha Nam Province, the Ministry of Culture - Information.

10. Ms. Tong Thi Phong (born 1954, a native of Son La), Vice President of the National Assembly. Ms. Tong Thi Phong was Party Secretary of Son La, Head of the Central Public Relations Committee.

11. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc (born 1954, a native of Quang Nam), Deputy Prime Minister, Politburo member of the 11th tenure. Mr. Phuc was Chairman of Quang Nam province, Chairman of the Office of Government.

12. Mr. Tran Dai Quang (born 1956, a native of Ninh Binh), the Minister of Public Security. Mr. Quang served as Deputy Director of the General Department of Security, Deputy Minister of Public Security.

13. Mr. To Huy Rua (born 1947, a native of Thanh Hoa), Head of the Central Organization Committee, member of the Politburo of 10th and 11th tenures. He served as Party Secretary of Hai Phong City, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, and Head of the Central Propaganda Committee.

14. Mr. Truong Tan Sang (born 1949, a native of Long An), member of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Politburo, the President. Mr. Sang was Chairman of HCM City People's Committee, Party Secretary of HCM City and Head of the Central Economic Committee.

15. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong (born 1944, Hanoi), Party Secretary General, member of the Politburo of 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th terms. Trong was the chief editor of the Communist Magazine, Hanoi Party Secretary and Chairman of the National Assembly.

16. Mr. Phung Quang Thanh (born 1949, Hanoi), Minister of Defense, member of the 10th and 11th Politburo. Mr. Thanh was conferred the title Hero of the Armed Forces.

Compiled by Tran Cham