World welcomes newly-elected State President

World welcomes newly-elected State President

With 99.79 per cent of the 477 National Assembly (NA) deputies voting in his favour, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has become the second Vietnamese person to become both Party general secretary and the state president of Vietnam after late President Ho Chi Minh, who simultaneously held the positions of president of the Party and state president from 1951 to 1969.

After the ballot, State President Trong took the oath of office, stating, “Under the sacred national flag, and before the NA, constituents, and all people nationwide, I, State President Nguyen Phu Trong, vow to be absolutely faithful to the country, its people, and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I will do my utmost to fulfil all tasks assigned by the Party, the state, and the people.”

He then also said, “This is an extremely great honour and a heavy responsibility. I will do everything in my power to do what I promised.”

“People may ask what I’m feeling right now, and I would say that I’m both happy and worried at the same time. Happy because the Party and the people have entrusted me with this mission; worried because now I have to live up to my position and do my best for my country.”

“I ask my comrades, government leaders, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the government, delegates and the people to sympathise with and support me. Additionally, relevant agencies like the NA, the government, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the judiciary, and central and local departments need to co-operate with one other seamlessly while highlighting the teamwork spirit to help me do my job well.”

On October 3, all members of the 12th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) recommended him to be the next state president of Vietnam. Last Monday, he was also the sole person to be introduced by the NA Standing Committee as a candidate for the post.

In Vietnam, the NA elects 50 officials, including the top positions in the country’s administration, including the state president, the prime minister, and the NA chairperson and his/her deputies, as well as ministers.

On September 21, State President Tran Dai Quang passed away, after which Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh was appointed as acting state president under the country’s Constitution and Law on the Organisation of the National Assembly until a new state president was officially elected by the NA.

Leaders of many nations and embassies have welcomed the Vietnamese new state president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed in his congratulatory telegram to Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong, “The Vietnamese NA’s ballot result showed your high prestige during your years in top positions of the Vietnamese Party and state. It also reflects your great contributions to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development and strengthening the country’s status in the international arena.”

President Putin also showed his strong belief that the two sides will continue joint efforts to further consolidate the Vietnamese-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated Vietnam’s new state president, saying in his congratulatory message that India immensely values its close friendship with Vietnam.

“Our countries have common interests, a profound responsibility and enormous opportunities to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said. “I am confident that my visit to Vietnam in November 2018 will further consolidate our political trust and deepen the Indian-Vietnamese Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to the benefit of our two peoples.”

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Chinese Central Committee, State President Xi Jinping also stated in his congratulatory telegram to President Trong that China and Vietnam are important partners of each other. He stands ready, together with Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong, to further strengthen the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

US Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink also congratulated President Trong, stating, “President Trong’s selection comes at a time when our bilateral ties with Vietnam have never been stronger. Over the past two decades, the US and Vietnam have come together to find a common purpose based on shared interests. We have expanded our security ties, forged new economic and commercial linkages, and deepened our people-to-people engagement. We share a common desire to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to continuing to work closely with President Trong on further strengthening and expanding the US-Vietnamese comprehensive partnership.”

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick also stated, “Australia looks forward to working with Vietnam’s newly-elected President Nguyen Phu Trong to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam.”

Vietnam’s new state ­president has also been ­welcomed by constituents nationwide.

“The fact that the Party general secretary is also the state president is quite suitable to the nation’s new ­development situation and ongoing institutional reform. It will benefit the Party and the whole nation,” said Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

“We do believe that with his excellent abilities, Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong will accomplish all of his duties. The unanimous agreement at the NA about his appointment as state president reflects great agreement in the Party and among the people,” he said.

Le Duc Hanh, a constituent from Kim Ma ward of Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district, also said that not only him, but also many others believe that “Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is ­well-qualified for the new position as state president.”

“People have absolute confidence in and fully ­support the general secretary, and want him to undertake this important position so that he can continue to serve the Party, the nation, and people for a long time,” Hanh said.