general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is a former public security minister who oversaw a national anti-corruption drive. He became president in May after a series of leadership shake-ups. Photo: AFP" />general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is a former public security minister who oversaw a national anti-corruption drive. He became president in May after a series of leadership shake-ups. Photo: AFP" />
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory telegram to Vietnam’s new party chief To Lam on Saturday, with a call for further efforts to bolster political trust between the two neighbours.
AdvertisementThe message was sent hours after Lam, who is the Vietnamese president, was named to the nation’s top position – general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Lam was unanimously elected by the party’s core central committee in Hanoi on Saturday morning.
The 67-year-old career security official replaces Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam ’s longest-serving party chief who died two weeks ago.
Xi Jinping says Vietnam is a ‘diplomatic priority’ as Chinese leader seeks closer bilateral ties
Xi Jinping says Vietnam is a ‘diplomatic priority’ as Chinese leader seeks closer bilateral tiesXi, who is also party secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, addressed Lam as “comrade”, a reference highlighting the links between their parties.
