Head of the Administrative Office of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Bounpone Bouttanavong and Minister of Education and Sports Phankham Viphavanh have been appointed as deputy prime ministers, official Lao news agency KPL reported on Wednesday.

Appointment of the new deputy prime ministers, who are both members of the politburo, was made at the ongoing 7th ordinary session of the National Assembly's (NA) 7th legislature here in the capital.

With the new appointment, Phankham will be both deputy prime minister and minister of education and sports.

The high profile reshuffles were approved by NA President Pany Yathortou following a vote of 108 in favor, 9 against, 3 abstaining.

The appointments were made in the presence of Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong who said the officials have grasped strong political ideology with high levels of knowledge, competence and experience, and have demonstrated themselves as good role models.

"These leading officials have been tested through real work situations," the prime minister said according to state-run daily Vientiane Times.

Acting Minister of National Defense and member of the Party's Central Committee's secretariat Major General Sengnouan Xayalath was endorsed as minister of national defense.

Sengnouan previously served as the deputy minister of national defense and will replace his predecessor Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit who lost his life in a plane crash in Xieng Khuang province in May.

Governor of Champassak province Sonexay Siphandone was appointed as minister to the Government Office and head of the Government Office. Sonexay will replace Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune who will take the position of Vientiane Mayor. Both Sonexay and Sinlavong are members of the Party Central Committee.