President hopes to deepen cooperation between Pakistan and Vietnam, praises country’s ties and 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” in his leadership.
state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that in a letter, President Zardari expressed confidence that under Lam’s leadership, Vietnam would achieve “greater progress and prosperity.”
Referring to bilateral relations, the president said 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 shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity.
President Asif Ali Zardari congratulates President To Lam on his election and highlights the unanimous mandate. It reaffirms the ties between Pakistan and Vietnam and expresses its commitment to deepen cooperation for shared peace, stability and prosperity. 🇵🇰🤝🇻🇳 @MOFAVietNam
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) April 10, 2026
Lam was unanimously elected president of Vietnam, consolidating his power to an extent that makes him the most dominant leader in Vietnam in decades. The 68-year-old, who already serves as head of the Communist Party of Vietnam, now has a dual mandate after securing a second term as the party’s general secretary earlier this year.
This marks a departure from Vietnam’s traditional collective leadership model, which concentrates authority in a single figure. Analysts say this could allow for faster and more decisive policymaking, although it also raises concerns about a shift toward greater authoritarianism in the one-party state.
Read: Vietnam’s top leader To Lam wins state presidency and gets Chinese-style mandate
In her post-election speech, Lam pledged to pursue “a new growth model with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving forces,” while prioritizing stability and sustainable development.
Widely considered pro-business, he has supported private sector expansion and ambitious growth targets, but his critics warn his policies could fuel cronyism, corruption risks and economic imbalances.
Meanwhile, parliament also elected Le Minh Hung as prime minister, replacing Pham Minh Chinh. The appointment of Hung, a former central bank governor, is seen as an effort to bring more economic experience to the leadership as Vietnam aims for sustained high growth in the coming years.
With additional contributions from Reuters.
