The 15th National Assembly (NA), at its fourth extra-ordinary session held on the morning of March 2, elected Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Member of the Politburo and Standing Member of the Party Secretariat, as State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Earlier, at its extra-ordinary meeting on March 1, the 13th Party Central Committee unanimously nominated Mr. Thuong as the only candidate for State President.

Mr. Thuong was born on December 13, 1970 in northern Hai Duong province, but his homeland is in the Mekong Delta’s Vinh Long province. He joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1993 and became an alternate member in the 10th Party Central Committee (2006-2011) and then a member of the 11th, 12th, and 13th Party Central Committee. He has been a Politburo Member in the 12th and 13th Party Central Committee and a Standing Member of the 13th Party Central Committee’s Secretariat. He holds a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Master of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The State President position had been vacant since January 18 when the NA relieved Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc from the position.

Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan then undertook the role of acting State President.