Hanoi’s new prime minister warns China: We will defend our territories
With a formal vote, the National Assembly elects Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who will lead the Legislature until 2020. In his inaugural speech he swears to defend "the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity." The reference is to the territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) - With a formal vote, Vietnam’s National Assembly has elected a new prime minister, who will lead the Legislature until 2020. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, 62, was the only candidate for the office after being elected by the Communist Party Congress held in January. He received 446 votes out of 490.
This concludes the elections of the three highest offices of State, after the re-election of Party’s General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the nomination for President of Tran Dai Quang, which took place last week.
Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a long career within the Party: He was governor of the central province of Quang Nam and vice president for five years.
The new prime minister has vowed "absolute loyalty to the country, the people and the Constitution". In his televised inaugural speech, Phuc promised a period of reform and a close fight against corruption, stressing that he will defend "firmly the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The reference is to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where for years China has been expanding its influence at the expense of neighboring countries, including Vietnam.
Hanoi is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia (+ 6.8% in 2014), but faces a period of high public debt and budget deficit. The reforms initiated by former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung opening up to a liberalization of the marketplace have increased income per capita, but the economic growth pattern has given rise to problems, such as excessive dependence on exports and foreign investment, with the government sector often ineffective compared to the private sector. Tan Dung’s application for the post of Secretary General of the Party has failed.
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02/03/2023 18:55
