Vietnam's National Assembly confirmed Truong Tan Sang as the country's new president Monday, replacing Nguyen Minh Triet in the largely symbolic position.
The assembly, elected in May, is voting for the country's leaders and cabinet for the next five years, in effect rubber-stamping the selection made by the Communist Party's national congress in January.
Sang, 62, was previously the standing member, or second-in-command, of the Communist Party's secretariat, and as such the country's second most powerful man to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who has led the party since January.
Sang has held several offices including head of the party's Central Economic Committee and the party chief for Ho Chi Minh City.
The sole candidate, Sang was elected to the presidency with 487 votes in the 500-seat assembly.
Under the constitution, the president is second only to the chief of the Communist Party, but the position is more symbolic in practice, with more power in the hands of the prime minister.
Also Monday, the assembly confirmed the candidature of current Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for re-election, and was expected to elect him formally for another five-year term on Wednesday.