Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 24 -- General Secretary To Lam (left) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at The White House, February 20, 2026. Photo: VNA

Carlyle Thayer said General Secretary To Lam promoted Viet Nam's international integration in the landmark Politburo Resolution No. 58 issued in January 2025, and he also coined the expression "Viet Nam's rise in the new era." These two themes have now been demonstrated in practice by General Secretary To Lam's bold and proactive decision to be one of the first to accept President Donald Trump's invitation to attend the inaugural meeting ]of the Board of Peace with an initial focus on postwar reconstruction in Gaza.

General Secretary To Lam represented Viet Nam at the Board of Peace that was...