Hanoi, Jul 28 (IANS): Vietnam's parliament on Thursday adopted the appointment of cabinet members for the 2016-2021 tenure proposed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

As many as 26 cabinet members, including deputy prime ministers as well as ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies were appointed, Xinhua news agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh received the highest approval rate of 97.77 per cent by deputies at the ongoing first session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) in capital Hanoi.

The five deputy prime ministers remain unchanged compared with the previous tenure, while head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was replaced.

Nguyen Xuan Cuong, deputy minister of MARD was approved to become MARD minister for 2016-2021 tenure with 86.64 per cent of approval by NA deputies.

Cuong, who had served as deputy minister of MARD since December 2015, was appointed to replace Cao Duc Phat.

Among ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies of Vietnamese government, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien is the only female minister and also the only cabinet member who is not a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.