HANOI - Vietnam’s top leader, Communist Party head Nguyen Phu Trong, on Jan 15 attended a session of the National Assembly after concerns had been raised for days over his health.

Earlier in January, contrary to normal practice, Mr Trong, 79, was not included in official schedules of meetings held with Vietnam’s leaders by visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

That led to widespread speculation about his health conditions.

State media on their websites on Jan 15 gave prominence to Mr Trong’s presence at the assembly’s session, which usually is not highlighted, and showed pictures of him smiling with other leaders and standing in Parliament.

Shortly after the chair’s opening speech, Mr Trong was seen walking out of the session with the help of aides, according to a Reuters witness.

Mr Trong has been at the helm of the ruling Communist Party since 2011 and holds the top job in Vietnam’s one-party political system.

The National Assembly is convening in an extraordinary session to discuss banking and land reforms, additional budget spending plans till 2025 and medium-term investment plans for state utility EVN.

The benchmark stock index rose 0.5 per cent in morning trade on Jan 15, after closing down 0.65 per cent on Jan 12 when concerns about Mr Trong’s health were widespread. REUTERS