On April 2, after General Tran Dai Quang was elected by the 13th National Assembly to hold the position of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a reporter had a quick interview with the President.

General Tran Dai Quang, new President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Here is the interview content:

- Dear Mr. President, congratulations on being elected by the National Assembly to hold the position of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Could you please tell us your thoughts?

President Tran Dai Quang:First of all, I would like to thank the journalist for his congratulations. Once again, I would like to thank the National Assembly delegates for their trust in electing me to the position of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

For me, this is a new task, an honor and a great responsibility. The valuable experiences in the activities of our State, with the great contributions of comrade Truong Tan Sang and previous Presidents, will be a valuable asset for me in the process of carrying out the important responsibilities assigned by the Party, the National Assembly and the people.

In my heart, I always keep in mind the wish of beloved Uncle Ho when he was elected by the National Assembly to hold the position of the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam: "I have only one desire, an utmost desire, which is to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and everyone can go to school."

Under the leadership of the Party, with the cooperation and assistance of the National Assembly, National Assembly deputies, the Government, relevant agencies and compatriots, comrades and soldiers nationwide, I will try my best to successfully complete the assigned tasks.

- Mr. President, as the head of state in the new development stage of the country, what tasks will you focus on to best fulfill the important responsibility entrusted to you by the Party, National Assembly and people?

President Tran Dai Quang:I suggest journalists simply call him President.

The 12th National Congress of the Party has just concluded with great success. The Congress affirmed the determination of the entire Party, people and army to continue to comprehensively and synchronously promote the renovation process; firmly protect the Fatherland, maintain a peaceful and stable environment; and strive to soon turn our country into a modern industrialized one.

As the Head of State, representing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in domestic and foreign affairs, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, Commander of the People's Armed Forces, I will strive and do my best to fulfill my duties and powers as prescribed by the Constitution and laws, and the tasks assigned by the Party, focusing on the following key tasks:

- Closely coordinate with the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government and relevant agencies in performing tasks and powers in the legislative and executive fields; actively participate in building and perfecting the legal system to institutionalize the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the 2013 Constitution; continue to perfect institutions, functions, tasks, powers, methods and operating mechanisms, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of State management, meet the requirements of a socialist rule-of-law State of the people, by the people and for the people in the conditions of developing a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration.

- Direct the building of a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modernized people's armed forces to meet the requirements of firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and sacred territorial waters of the Fatherland, maintaining political stability, and creating a peaceful environment for national development. Research and propose to the Politburo and the National Assembly to specify the task of commanding the people's armed forces and the organizational and operational mechanism of the National Defense and Security Council as former President Truong Tan Sang stated at the 11th Session of the 13th National Assembly.

- Coordinate and direct the consistent implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; proactively and actively integrate into the international community, serving the goal of ensuring the highest interests of the nation, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, making the most of external resources to develop the country, and improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

- Focus on judicial reform, building a clean, strong, democratic, strict judiciary, protecting the Constitution, law, human rights, civil rights, and protecting the socialist regime.

- Actively coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in caring for all classes of people and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese community abroad; promote democracy, strengthen the great national unity bloc to successfully carry out the two strategic tasks of building socialism and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

- Mr. President, may I ask one last question, what message would you like to send to our compatriots, comrades, soldiers nationwide, and our compatriots abroad at this time?

President Tran Dai Quang:I would like to send my warmest regards and best wishes to my compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide and our compatriots abroad. In the general trend of the times, especially the great success of the recent 12th National Party Congress, our nation is facing a new opportunity with advantages, difficulties, opportunities, and challenges always intertwined.

More than ever, I hope that our compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide and our compatriots abroad will join hands and unite to promote the nation's mettle, intelligence, patriotic traditions, and indomitable will to rise up, seize opportunities, overcome difficulties and challenges, strive to achieve new and greater victories to build our country to become increasingly rich and strong, our nation to last forever, standing shoulder to shoulder with friends from all over the world, as beloved President Ho Chi Minh always wished during his lifetime.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

According to VN+