Vietnam's National Assembly recently elected Luong Cuong as the country's new president, making the military general the fourth official to fill the largely ceremonial role in 18 months.

Cuong, 67, was elected by the National Assembly to replace To Lam, who remained president even after he was formally appointed as the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party in August.

The presidency is one of Vietnam's four main political posts, with the other roles being the general secretary of the Communist Party, the prime minister of Vietnam and the chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

Cuong has been a member of the politburo, the most powerful decision-making body of the Communist Party, since 2021. Before the election, he held a key position in the party secretariat, which made him the fifth-highest ranking official in the country.

Cuong also served in Vietnam's army for over four decades.

"Luong Cuong is a career political commissar in the People's Army of Vietnam, so, while he may be a general, he's never had operational command, and is much more of a party man," Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, told DW.

In his inaugural speech, Cuong promised to........

© Deutsche Welle