Hanoi: Vo Van Thuong, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), was elected as the new President in March.

The country’s top legislature convened a special meeting and elected Thuong as the new president with an approval rate of 98.38 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. In a statement, Thuong vowed to be absolutely loyal to the nation, the people and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and to work hard to fulfil the duty assigned by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the state and the people. He will serve until the present term ends in 2026.

Thuong, who was born in December 1970, is the youngest among members of the Politburo of the CPV. In his official biography, Mekong Delta’s Vinh Long province is listed as his hometown.

He has an M.A. in Philosophy and an advanced degree in political theory from the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Thuong started his political career in 1993, working on student and youth affairs, and became secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Communist Youth Union in 2003.