Former PM Phan Van Khai dies, aged 85

Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai passed away at 1:30 on March 17^th at Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, aged 85, according to the Board of health care services for senior officials.

Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at a ceremony to receive the the 55-year Party Membership Badge in 2014. (Source: VNA)

Phan Van Khai was born on December 25^th, 1933 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. He became a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam on July 15^th, 1959.

He studied foreign languages and economics in Moscow, former Soviet Union (Russia now) from 1959-1965, then worked in the General Affairs Department of the State Planning Committee from 1965 to 1971 with the highest position as head of the office.

From 1972-1975, he was a researcher of the southern economy. In the period, he was sent to the southern battlefield and then served as deputy head of the Government Unification Committee.

From 1976-1984, Khai was Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Planning Committee, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, member of the city’s Party Committee.

From 1985 to March 1989, he served as a member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the city People’s Committee.

From April 1989 to August 1991, he was a member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the State Planning Committee.

From July 1991 to August 1997, Khai was a Politburo member and served as Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and Standing Deputy Prime Minister.

Phan Van Khai took the office of the Prime Minister from September 1997 to June 2006.

He was a National Assembly deputy of the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 11^th tenures, and a member of the Politburo in the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th tenures.

As one of the high-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase of the country's Renewal and nation-building cause, PM Khai was active and determined to build the institution under the spirit of renewal to utilise the capacity of all economic sectors, especially the private one, together with opening door to the world and integrating internationally.

During nearly two working terms of the PM, fundamental laws in the first phase of the Renewal and door-opening process were built.

The Government chaired by PM Khai left its working-term marks by the issuance of the Business Law, the annulment of hundreds of licences, the involvement in many tough talks to negotiate on Vietnam's admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and more.

The Party and State have presented PM Khai the Golden Star Order and the 55-year Party Membership Badge (2014), in recognition of his dedications to the country's revolutionary cause./.

VNF/VNA