Võ Văn Thưởng elected new President of Việt Nam

The National Assembly of Việt Nam on Thursday morning confirmed Politburo member Võ Văn Thưởng as the new State President of Việt Nam for the 2021-26 term during an extraordinary meeting held in Hà Nội.

Võ Văn Thưởng is sworn in as the new State President of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam during a ceremony at the National Assembly Building in Hà Nội on Thursday morning

A total of 487 deputies out of the 488 present at the NA Building in Hà Nội voted to pass the parliament's resolution on electing Thưởng to the post.

He was the candidate nominated by the Party Central Committee after they convened a day earlier in Hà Nội, also during an extraordinary meeting.

Thưởng, 53, from the southern province of Vĩnh Long, holds a Master's in Philosophy.

He has been a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Party, for two tenures.

He has been the youngest permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat since 1976, and also the youngest in the currently 16-member Politburo.

During the swearing-in ceremony that took place shortly after the parliament's vote, the new President swore allegiance to the Fatherland, to the people, and to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam.

"(I will) strive to fulfil to the best of my abilities the responsibilities and missions entrusted by the Party, State, and the people," the newly-elected President said.

NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ on behalf of the parliament has recognised the oath of the new President and congratulated Thưởng on the election.

National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ (right) congratulated and presented flowers to the newly elected State President Võ Văn Thưởng

In his speech on taking office, President Thưởng thanked the NA for the trust and for giving him the chance to serve the Fatherland and the people in this position.

He expressed his gratitude to the Party Central Committee, General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and leaders of the Party and State for confiding in him and recommending him for this position.

This is a great honour, and a very heavy responsibility for him, Thưởng said, expressing his infinite respect and gratitude to the late founding father of Việt Nam, President Hồ Chí Minh.

He vowed to constantly study and follow President Hồ Chí Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle.

He added that Việt Nam is striving to be a developing country with modern industry, high middle income by 2030, and a high-income developed country with socialist orientation by 2045, which is the 100th anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam.

In order to achieve this goal, he stressed that a “matter of principle vital to the country and our regime” is being steadfast in its creative implementation of Marxism-Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh’s thought, being steadfast in pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism, being steadfast in adhering to the Party's renewal efforts, and ensuring the highest interests of the nation, on the basis of fundamental principles of international law.

He pledged to “frankly listen to all opinions that are in the best interests of the country and the people of all patriotic Vietnamese,” and base the policies on the legal, legitimate interests of the people.

President Thưởng also said he is committed to the fight against corruption, committed to the efforts to build a transparent State apparatus with integrity, committed to national defence and territorial integrity and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable environment to serve the development of the country.

Thưởng also noted his commitment to encouraging dynamism and a can-do attitude, and creating an environment for everyone, especially the young generation, to have fair and transparent access to development opportunities and contribute to the country.

He also pledged to actively contribute to peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the region and the world, in the spirit of Việt Nam being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Party leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ, and Acting President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân, along with Chair of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Đỗ Văn Chiến congratulate Thưởng on the new position during the ceremony on Thursday

After rising in the ranks of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union after joining in 1993, he has served as the Secretary of the central province Quảng Ngãi Party Committee in 2011, the Deputy Secretary of HCM City Party Committee for the 2010-15 term.

He became the head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education in 2016, and has been a permanent member of the Secretariat since 2021.

Võ Thị Ánh Xuân, 53, from the southern province of An Giang, had served as the Acting State President since the stepping down of her predecessor Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on January 17, 2023.