Little change at the top for Laos

Picturesque Laos

VIENTIANE, Laos -- A three-day meeting of the ruling communist party of Laos ended on Wednesday with little change in its top ranks.

President Khamtay Siphandone, 77, kept his grip on the leadership.

But younger party members were added to the politburo and central committee at the five-yearly meeting, which was also attended by representatives of communist allies Vietnam and China.

The World Bank estimated its per capita income at $280 per day in 1999 -- less than a dollar a day -- and the UN's Development Programme ranks Laos 140 of 174 countries in terms of education, healthcare, gender equity and a variety of indicators.

Diplomats said last week they expected a major power shuffle in the poor, landlocked country with President Khamtay stepping down but holding on to his post as the chief of the powerful politburo.

Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphan had also been expected to resign.

Laotian officials said modest changes during the party congress, attended by 500 members aged mostly in their 60s and 70s, meant few surprises when the national assembly approves the new cabinet at the end of this month.

Laos, one of the world's poorest countries, has been run by a secretive one-party political system for more than 25 years.

Fresh blood

Thongloun Sisoulith, ranked 15 in the central committee, Doungchay Phichit ranked 22, and 40th-ranked Bouansoune Bouphavanh were given the three most junior posts in the politburo.

The appointment of Bouansoune, 44, was a surprise for many observers because he is the youngest of both panels, where the average age is 56.

Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who had been tipped as a candidate for the 11-member politburo, was not among two additional members appointed.

Supporters of Somsavat, who is also deputy prime minister, said he should be given more responsibility for economic development.

At the congress, Somsavat unveiled the party's plans to triple per capita GDP by 2020 for the country's 5.2 million people.

Somsavat said during the congress that cooperation between the party's young, middle-aged and older members would help achieve Laos' development goals.

Eliminating production of opium by 2005 was also part of a poverty-reduction scheme, he said.

Other party delegates called for better fiscal discipline, controlling inflation and reigning in trade and budget deficits.

Some, including Somsavat, have expressed admiration of the Chinese model of market reforms co-existing with a socialist political system.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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