Comrade Vo Van Thuong was elected President by the National Assembly.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Standing member of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong and National Assembly leaders cast their votes to elect the President. Photo: Quang Khanh

Comrade Vo Van Thuong was born on December 13, 1970; hometown is An Phuoc commune, Mang Thit district, Vinh Long province; advanced political theory degree, master's degree in Philosophy.

He was a member of the Politburo for two terms (12, 13), Secretary of the Party Central Committee for two terms (12, 13), Standing member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat for the 13th term, member of the Party Central Committee for four terms (10 - alternate, 11, 12, 13), and a National Assembly delegate for three terms (12, 14, 15).

Comrade Vo Van Thuong grew up as a Youth Union cadre and has held many important positions from local to central levels: Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, First Secretary of the Central Youth Union, President of the Vietnam Youth Union, Chairman of the National Committee on Vietnamese Youth...

At 10:00 a.m. on March 2, 2023, before the National Assembly, compatriots and voters nationwide, Comrade Vo Van Thuong took the oath of office as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Photo: Quang Khanh

In August 2011, he was assigned by the Politburo to hold the position of Secretary of the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee.

In April 2014, he became the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee for the 2010-2015 term, then the Standing Deputy Secretary and was assigned by the Politburo to run the work of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee.

National Assembly deputies perform the flag-saluting ceremony. Photo: Phan Hau

In January 2016, he was elected to the Party Central Committee by the 12th National Congress and to the Politburo by the Central Committee.

In February 2016, he was assigned by the Politburo to join the Central Party Secretariat, holding the position of Head of the Central Propaganda Department.

Panorama of the 4th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: Quang Khanh

At the 13th National Party Congress, comrade Vo Van Thuong was re-elected as a member of the Central Executive Committee and was elected by the Central Committee to the Politburo.

Comrade Vo Van Thuong was assigned by the Politburo to hold the position of Standing Secretary of the Secretariat from February 2021 to present.

In his inaugural speech, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his sincere thanks to the National Assembly for trusting him and giving him the opportunity to serve the Fatherland and the People in his capacity as President; and his sincere thanks to the Party Central Committee, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and the Party and State leaders for their confidence in his nomination, saying that this was a great honor and a very heavy responsibility for him.

Comrade Vo Van Thuong delivered his inaugural speech as President. Photo: Quang Khanh

At this particularly important moment, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his sincere gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh - National Liberation Hero, World Cultural Celebrity, great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, founder and first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; vowing to continuously study and follow his ideology, morality and style.

The President also expressed his eternal gratitude for the great contributions of generations of Party members, soldiers and patriotic Vietnamese people to help our country gain the foundation, potential and prestigious international position it has today.

National Assembly deputies attend the 4th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: Quang Khanh

Proud of the country's foundation, potential, and international prestige, the President shared that the deeper awareness of the requirements and tasks as the country enters a new stage of development, the more determined we are to realize the aspiration of building a prosperous and happy country, striving to become a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030 and by 2045, when the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, our country will become a high-income developed country with socialist orientation.

To achieve this goal, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his deep awareness that the issue of principle has vital significance and a solid foundation for our country and regime: we must steadfastly and creatively apply Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, steadfastly adhere to the goal of national independence and socialism, steadfastly adhere to the Party's renewal policy, and ensure the highest national interests, on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law.

Sharing that having grown up in the spirit of the Party and the love of the people, and being inspired by the hands, minds, diligence, hard work and efforts of the people in all three regions of the country, President Vo Van Thuong believes that he must strive, try, do more useful things, and persistently pursue good values.

In the journey of serving the Fatherland and the People in the coming time, President Vo Van Thuong said that he will constantly cultivate and make efforts to fulfill his duties as President according to the provisions of the Constitution, together with the entire Party, people and army, strive for a prosperous people, strong country, democracy, equality, civilization, and steady progress towards socialism; constantly care for building and promoting the strength of great national unity, sincerely listen to the opinions of all patriotic Vietnamese people for the people and the country.

Thoroughly grasp the viewpoint that "people are the root", take the legitimate and legal interests of the people as the starting point and the important goal of policy decisions, do everything that is beneficial to the people, avoid everything that is harmful to the people; resolutely fight against corruption and negativity; synchronously perfect the sustainable development institutions, build a clean and strong state apparatus, encourage the spirit of dynamism, creativity, dare to think, dare to do, for the benefit of the people, the nation and the people.

Respect the aspirations of each citizen, create an environment for everyone, especially the young generation, to have fair and transparent access to development opportunities and contribute to the country; persistently and resolutely protect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity; maintain a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Building a strong People's Armed Forces in all aspects, with a strong people's heart, a strong national defense and a strong people's security posture. Actively contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the region and the world with the spirit of Vietnam being a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community.

At the end of his inaugural speech, President Vo Van Thuong borrowed a verse from poet Xuan Dieu to express his commitment to the National Assembly, compatriots, soldiers, and voters nationwide on the upcoming journey:

“I am of the same flesh and blood as my People,

Sweat together, bleed together

I live a life of fighting

Of millions of beloved people in hardship".