VietNamNet Bridge – Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh in Monday evening, July 27, appeared in an art program held at the conference hall of the Ministry of Defense. It was broadcast live on national television channel VTV1.

Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh shakes hands with President Truong Tan Sang.

This was the first time Minister Thanh has appeared in public after returning home on July 25 after several weeks of medical treatment in France.

The show was organized on the occasion of the Day of Vietnamese War Invalids and Martyrs, July 27, with the participation of many high-ranking officials, including President Truong Tan Sang, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, National Assembly Vice Chair Tong Thi Phong and Minister Thanh.

 Minister Thanh at the event.

Minister Thanh at the art program.

Earlier, the Chief of the Central Military Committee, Lieutenant General Vu Van Hien, said Minister Thanh had recovered but at the request of doctors, he would not appear in public to avoid exposure to bacteria. Therefore, the Minister rested and worked in the safe environment for at least 15 days.

After a period of treatment in France, General Thanh returned home on July 25. Many leaders of the Party, the State, and the government directly visited or phoned him to give their compliments.

On July 20, the German news agency DPA reported that Minister Thanh passed away at a hospital in France. The information was immediately rejected by the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army - Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan. The Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs also asked the DPA to make a correction.

On July 21, DPA posted a new article, quoting Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan as saying that Minister Thanh’s health was stable after surgery at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in France.

More photos of Minister Thanh at the event:

PV