HANOI, Jan 23 (Reuters): Vietnam's top leader To Lam was appointed on Friday as head of the ruling Communist Party for the next five years, state media reported, as he pledged to turbocharge growth in the export-reliant nation.

In the one-party state, Lam was re-elected "unanimously" to the country's most powerful job by 180 party officials from a newly-formed committee at the end of the five-yearly party congress, according to the Vietnam News Agency citing a press release from the party.

In an address to the congress, Lam said he would maintain unity of the party and said there were huge tasks ahead.

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