To Lam

To Lam is the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He is now also the President of Vietnam, elected unanimously by the National Assembly. This consolidation of power, combining the roles of Party leader and President, is unusual in Vietnam and has drawn comparisons to China's Xi Jinping. This makes him the most powerful political figure in Vietnam's recent history. His election is newsworthy because it centralizes authority in a nation traditionally governed collectively. Recent events include his unanimous election by the assembly and his pledge to fulfill his duties. His leadership is also relevant in the context of Vietnam's relationship with China, as demonstrated by agreements on naval exercises, pledges to oppose unilateralism, and economic cooperation such as VietJet's leasing of Chinese-made aircraft. He has hailed relations with Beijing as a “top priority.”