The 59-year-old, who has a bachelor's degree in diplomacy and a master's degree in international relations, has largely been in diplomacy, having been deputy department chief and deputy director of what is now the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam between 1996 and 2000, counsellor and envoy at the Vietnamese embassy in Singapore from 2000 to 2003, deputy chief of the Department of Foreign Policy from 2003 to 2007, and its chief from 2007 to 2008.

In 2008-09 he was assistant to the minister of foreign affairs before becoming deputy minister of foreign affairs.

His predecessor, Pham Binh Minh, relinquishes his ministerial responsibilities but continues to be a deputy prime minister.

On Thursday the National Assembly approved the 12 new ministers and department heads, and two deputy ministers in new Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s cabinet.