Nguyen Phu Trong

“A number of party... members lack proper discipline, are plagued by individualism, selfishness and opportunism. This gives rise to some individuals' words not matching their deeds, not adhering to party rules and regulations and having no proper mechanisms for disciplining those who make mistakes.”

“The principle of the Communist Party of Vietnam is collective leadership with accountability and responsibility of the individual, which can never become authoritarian.”

“Do not let ASEAN become a playing card for the competition among major countries.”

“Vietnam's Communist Party is one-party rule but we also have principles of democracy and accountability of the leaders. Otherwise the faults would be blamed on the entire group and merits would be credited to the individual.”

“Let me be very frank. I didn't expect to be introduced and elected.”

“I was re-elected as general secretary with almost 100 per cent of the vote. And I am very surprised by that. Because I am quite old. I am the oldest member in the leadership of Vietnam. I myself asked to be retired but due to responsibility tasked on me by the party I had to accept.”

“It is not proper to name them, but in a number of countries, in the name of democracy, all decisions are made by one person.”

“Further reforms should be undertaken to transform the U.N. into a stronger and more effective Organization that can fulfill its role of harmonizing the interests and behaviors of States in the face of the monumental changes of our time.”

“We will resolutely and persistently maintain independence while fighting for the protection of our sovereignty, but we must maintain a peaceful environment for development.”

“What belongs to our independence and national sovereignty, we will never give up.”

“We must choose dialogue over confrontation, and peaceful settlement of disputes over unilateral acts of imposition.”

“The Politburo and Secretariat for many terms now have made some big mistakes, especially having not prevented and remedied corruption and the deterioration among some party members.”

“We need to balance between democracy and law and order.”

“I believe that peace, stability, maritime security and cooperation for mutual benefits in the East Sea represent the essential interest of countries within and outside the region.”

“One of the main objective of our visit to India is to discuss with the Indian leaders and set out concrete,effective measures and direction aimed to deepen and add more substances to the Vietnam-India strategic partnership and translate potentials into reality in the interest of the two countries' people.”

“I think that 20 years ago, not too many people would imagine a meeting - interesting meeting, a substantive meeting between the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the President of the United States.”

“The market economy of its own cannot destroy socialism. But to build socialism with success, it is necessary to develop a market economy in an adequate and correct way.”

“Like in any relations between two countries in the world, Vietnam and the U.S. have differences on a number of issues such as perception on democracy, human rights and trade.”

“A country without discipline would be chaotic and unstable.”

“Policies and actions should have the interest of our people at the heart, so that no one, and no country, will be left behind.”