Russia's State Duma, lower house of parliament, approved Viktor Zubkov as new prime minister on Friday.
President Vladimir Putin nominated Zubkov, chief of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, as candidate for the post Wednesday, hours after he dissolved the government at the request of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
The 450-seat State Duma voted by 381 to 47 to confirm the nomination of Zubkov, who pledged to stick to Putin's economic policies.
Addressing the parliament members before the vote, the 65-year-old Zubkov said the priority of the new Cabinet will include moves to secure stability of Russia's development, make the government's work more dynamic and create an innovative economy.
He vowed to strengthen defense industries and boost such sectors as aircraft- and shipbuilding, urging state-owned companies to play a major role in such fields.
"In the long run, it will improve the quality of economy and, therefore, citizens' life," Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.
The new cabinet chief also pledged to secure economic growth, promote social development, increase wage and improve welfare of the people.
Russia should make better use of its natural resources like oil and gas, and make more "tangible profits" from those industries, he noted.
Zubkov, a long associate of President Putin, did not rule out possibility to run for the presidential post when Putin was expected to step down after the general election next March.
Russia's two acting first deputy prime ministers, Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev, had been widely seen as leading contenders in the presidential race.
Zubkov was born on Sept. 15, 1941 in the village of Arbat, the Sverdlovsk Region. He has been married and has a daughter.
Source: Xinhua
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