Vietnam’s new State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Phuc, 67, received more than 97.5% of the votes at a plenary session to become Vietnam’s 11th president.

After being sworn in, President Phuc said he believes that under the leadership of the Party and with the mettle and brainpower of the Vietnamese people, the strength of great national unity and support from its foreign friends, Vietnam will overcome all difficulties and achieve the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress.

“Although Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups, it shares one heart, one home, one glorious history, and one glorious mission. We are working hard to make Vietnam a powerful country by 2045 to realize President Ho Chi Minh's aspiration of a Vietnam on par with other powers around the world and the spirit of the 13th Party Congress," said Mr. Phuc.

"It is a lofty goal which all of us, even the coming generations, should strive to achieve. We strongly believe we can make Vietnam a strong, prosperous country performing new miracles on the foundation of our glorious tradition.”

President Phuc was born on July 20, 1954, in Quang Nam province. He has been a Politburo member since 2011, a member of the Party Central Committee since 2006, and is currently a National Assembly deputy.

Between 1997 and 2006 he was chairman of Quang Nam province, deputy inspector-general of the Government Inspectorate, and chairman of the Government Office. He became Deputy Prime Minister in 2011 and Prime Minister in 2016.

As Prime Minister in the previous term, Mr. Phuc left his mark on the nation's socio-economic development.