President hopes to deepen cooperation between Pakistan and Vietnam, praises ties and country’s progress under new leadership
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday congratulated To Lam on his election as President of Vietnam.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday congratulated To Lam on his election as president of Vietnam, saying the unanimous vote reflects the National Assembly’s “confidence and trust” in his leadership.
The state television company Radio Pakistan reported that President Zardari expressed confidence in a letter that under Lam’s administration Vietnam would achieve “greater progress and prosperity”.
Referring to bilateral ties, the President said that Pakistan and Vietnam enjoy “cordial and friendly relations based on mutual trust and goodwill”. He also conveyed his desire to work closely with Lam to further strengthen cooperation and promote common goals of peace, stability and prosperity.
President Asif Ali Zardari congratulates President To Lam on the election and notes the unanimous mandate. Reaffirms ties between Pakistan and Vietnam and expresses commitment to deepen cooperation for common peace, stability and prosperity. 🇵🇰🤝🇻🇳 @MOFAVietNam
— President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) 10 April 2026
Lam was unanimously elected president of Vietnam, consolidating power in a move that makes him the most dominant leader in Vietnam in decades. The 68-year-old, who already serves as head of Vietnam’s Communist Party, now has a dual mandate after securing a second term as party secretary-general earlier this year.
The development marks a departure from Vietnam’s traditional collective leadership model that concentrates authority in a single figure. Analysts say this could enable faster and more decisive policy-making, although it also raises concerns about a shift towards greater authoritarianism in the one-party state.
Read: Vietnam’s supreme leader To Lam wins state presidency, gets China-style mandate
In his post-election speech, Lam pledged to pursue “a new growth model with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the primary drivers” while prioritizing stability and sustainable development.
Seen as generally pro-business, he has supported private sector expansion and ambitious growth targets, but critics warn that his policies could fuel favoritism, corruption risks and economic imbalances.
Meanwhile, the parliament also elected Le Minh Hung as Prime Minister, replacing Pham Minh Chinh. Hung’s appointment, as a former central bank chief, is seen as an attempt to bring greater financial expertise into the leadership as Vietnam aims for sustained high growth in the coming years.
With additional input from Reuters.
