New Vietnam PM vows to ‘firmly defend the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity’
Nguyen Xuan Phuc sworn in amid regional tensions over China’s territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea
Vietnam’s rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday elected Nguyen Xuan Phuc as prime minister, and he takes office at a time of soaring public debt, a worrying budget deficit and China’s growing assertiveness in nearby seas.
In a formal vote, 446 of the 490 members in the National Assembly voted to install Phuc, 61, as the head of government.
The appointment of Phuc, who rose from governor of the central province of Quang Nam to deputy prime minister five years ago, was a mere formality after he was picked at the Communist Party’s congress in January as the sole candidate to replace Nguyen Tan Dung, who was removed from office Wednesday.
Phuc completes the triumvirate of power, which includes General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong who was re-elected at the party congress in January and President Tran Dai Quang who was elected by the assembly last week.