Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the opening ceremony of the National Assembly's spring session in Hanoi, in this March 21, 2016 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

HANOI - Nguyen Xuan Phuc was elected by the Vietnamese parliament on Thursday as the country's new prime minister.

With 446 "yes" votes out of 490 valid ballots cast by the National Assembly (NA) deputies, Phuc was approved to be the new cabinet chief at the 11th session of the 13th NA.

Phuc, 61, was chosen to replace Nguyen Tan Dung, who was relieved from the duty of Vietnamese prime minister on Wednesday.

"I swear to be absolutely loyal to the nation, the people and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," Phuc said in a statement.

He also pledged to make every effort to fulfill the duty assigned by the Vietnamese party, the state and the people.

In late January, some former key leaders of the country were not elected to be among 200 members of the new Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPVCC).

Vietnamese party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said in early March that the CPVCC agreed to replace and re-arrange key leadership positions to promptly implement the resolution of the 12th national party congress.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan became the first chairwoman of the National Assembly on March 31 and Tran Dai Quang was elected the new president on April 2.