PM Phuc is Vietnam's new president

Vietnam's new state president Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

The National Assembly has passed a resolution appointing Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the country's next president.

Phuc, 67, received more than 97 percent of the votes at a plenary session on Monday morning to become the 11th president since 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

The state president is the country's top representative in both internal and external affairs; and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

His predecessor, Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, stepped down last Friday after holding the office for more than two years since Tran Dai Quang died of illness in 2018.

Phuc was born in the central province of Quang Nam.

Between 1997 and 2006 he was chairman of the province, deputy inspector-general of the Government Inspectorate and chairman of the Government Office.

He became deputy prime minister in 2011 and prime minister in 2016.

He is a member of the Party Central Committee and Politburo.

Phuc was among the "special cases" -- who exceeded the stipulated age limit -- recommended by the Party Central Committee for reelection into the 13th Party Central Committee last January.

The Central Committee in January elected Nguyen Phu Trong as general secretary for a third term.

Also on Monday Phuc's successor as prime minister is expected to take the oath.

Pham Minh Chinh, 63, head of the Central Organizing Commission, has been nominated for the position.

Vuong Dinh Hue, 64, former minister of finance and ex-deputy prime minister, was appointed chairman of the National Assembly last week.

Vietnam has a "four pillar" leadership structure made up of general secretary, prime minister, president and NA chair.