Inaugural address by Party General Secretary To Lam on taking office as President

Party General Secretary and 16th National Assembly deputy To Lam took the oath of office as President of Viet Nam for the 2026–2031 term at the National Assembly House on the morning of April 7. Nhan Dan Newspaper respectfully presents the full text of the inaugural address delivered by General Secretary and President To Lam.

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I am deeply aware that assuming the responsibility of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is an extremely great honour, a sacred and noble responsibility and duty, and also the trust and expectations of the entire Party, people, and army placed in the head of the Party and State. Together with the entire Party, people, and army, especially the collective of the Party Central Committee, I would steer the ship of revolution through all storms and rough seas, reaching its destination soon, fulfilling the aspirations of President Ho Chi Minh and the aspirations of the nation: “The entire Party and people unite and strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Viet Nam, and make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause.”

Against a backdrop of complex and evolving global challenges, as the country advances major strategic policies with historically significant goals, my foremost priority, in my dual capacity as General Secretary and State President, is to “maintain a peaceful and stable environment; promote rapid and sustainable national development; improve the people’s living standards in all respects so that they fully benefit from the fruits of development; and enhance Viet Nam’s contributions to peace, stability, development and progress in the region and the world.”

Together with the entire Party, people and armed forces, we will focus on building a socialist rule-of-law state; developing an independent, self-reliant and resilient economy; strengthening a comprehensive, modern all-people national defence and security posture; streamlining the political system to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness; and fostering a developed, united, culturally rich and humane society. Efforts will be made to create a new development ecosystem and achieve strategic autonomy, leveraging development to sustain stability and, in turn, using stability as a foundation for rapid and sustainable growth. A new growth model will be established, with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the key driving forces. A modern national education system will be built to ensure the comprehensive development of the Vietnamese people, alongside the development of a highly skilled, high-quality workforce to meet the demands of the new development stage. Institutions, mechanisms and policies governing social development will be further refined to ensure modernity, inclusiveness and sustainability. Discipline in governance and implementation will be strengthened across the political system, ensuring that commitments are matched by concrete action, carried through to completion, and centred on serving the people, with outcomes that are effective and substantive.

To advance foreign affairs and international integration to a new level, contributing more effectively to the country’s strategic objectives and demonstrating greater responsibility for global peace and development; guided by the principle of “ensuring the highest national and ethnic interests; taking peace, independence, self-reliance and resilience as the foundation; placing the people at the centre of all policies; and regarding contributions to the international community as a responsibility”; bringing our country in line with the flow of global politics, the international economy and human civilisation.

The highest goal and ultimate destination is for the people to benefit from the fruits of development.

--- Party General Secretary, President To Lam ---

To complete and implement the Strategy for Safeguarding the Fatherland and the National Security Strategy in line with the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland and national security in the new era. Priority will be given to strengthening capacity, achieving strategic autonomy in national defence and security, and building revolutionary, regular, elite and modern armed forces capable of proactively eliminating all risks early and from afar, and firmly safeguarding the Fatherland and national security in all circumstances. To consolidate a peaceful, stable, secure, orderly, disciplined, safe and healthy environment at a high level, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

In carrying out the duties of Party General Secretary and State President, the foremost priority is to thoroughly grasp and consistently implement the viewpoint that “the people are the root”, strongly promoting the people’s role as the central actors, and mobilising the strength of the people and the great national unity bloc. The highest goal and ultimate destination is for the people to benefit from the fruits of development.

Maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; to promote rapid and sustainable national development; to improve all aspects of people's lives, so that people can enjoy all the fruits of development; and to increase Viet Nam's contribution to peace, stability, development, and progress in the region and around the world.