US congratulates Vietnam’s new president on their election

The US congratulated Communist Party General Secretary To Lam on Tuesday for his election as Vietnam's president and Le Minh Hung on his election as prime minister.

In a statement, the State Department highlighted the value of its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, a relationship built over more than three decades of growing friendship, mutual respect and shared interests.

"We appreciate Vietnam's close cooperation in advancing economic prosperity, expanding people-to-people ties, and working together to promote peace and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific," it said.

The US will look forward to working closely with the president and prime minister "to promote peace and prosperity for both our peoples and to continue to make our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous," it added.

Vietnam's lawmakers unanimously elected To Lam as president on Tuesday for the next five years.

His election marks his second term after a short-lived tenure in 2024, according to the VnExpress news outlet. He is mandated to serve as president for the 2026-2031 term while continuing as general secretary.