U Win Myint (R), former speaker of the House of Representatives (Lower House), attends a session of Myanmar Union Parliament in Nay Pyi Taw March 28, 2018. U Win Myint has been elected as Myanmar's new president, according to a parliament announcement. (Xinhua/U Aung)

NAY PYI TAW, March 28 (Xinhua) -- U Win Myint, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was elected as Myanmar's new president in the presidential run on Wednesday, the Union Parliament announced.

U Win Myint became the country's 10th president since 1948.

The presidential run was hosted by the Union Parliament to fill the presidency vacancy left by U Htin Kyaw, who announced resignation last week, citing health as reason.

The presidential election was contested among three vice presidents, namely U Myint Swe, U Henry Van Thio and U Win Myint.

U Win Myint won the election with 403 votes as a total of 636 MPs cast their votes in the Union Parliament. Of the votes cast, four were cancelled.

U Myint Swe won 211 votes and U Henry Van Thio gained 18 votes.

In the election, U Myint Swe and U Henry Van Thio remained as the first and second vice president respectively, according to their votes received.

The parliament is expected to announce the date of the swearing-in to office of the elected president and two vice presidents on Thursday when the parliament session continues.