Foreign leaders extend condolences to Vietnam over former President’s death

Former President Le Duc Anh

Leaders of China, Laos, Cambodia and Cuba have sent messages and letters of condolences over the death of former President Le Duc Anh to leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the State, Government, National Assembly and people of Vietnam, and the family of the deceased.

Former President General Le Duc Anh, who served as President of Vietnam from September 1992 to 1997, passed away on April 22 at the age of 99.

In his message addressed to General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping expressed deep sympathy on behalf of the CPC, the Government and people of China.

He emphasized that the late President Le Duc Anh had made important contributions to Vietnam’s national construction and defence, and unceasing efforts to promote the development of the China-Vietnam relationship.

“With his death, the Vietnamese people lost an outstanding leader and the Chinese people lost a dear friend,” Xi wrote, while expressing his belief that the Party, Government and people of Vietnam will turn sorrow into strength and continue to reap new achievements in the cause of socialist building.

The Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the Lao National Assembly, the Lao Government and the Lao Front for National Construction have sent a letter of condolences to their Vietnamese counterparts.

In the letter, Laos expressed deep sorrow at the death of the former President and offered deepest sympathy to the CPV Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Vietnamese people as well as the family and relatives of the late President.

The Lao side praised the deceased’s great contributions to Vietnam’s past struggle for national liberation and its nation building and safeguarding cause over the past more than 80 years.

Comrade Le Duc Anh made important contributions to strengthening and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam over the past times, the letter wrote.

The Lao side said with the passing away of comrade Le Duc Anh, not only the Vietnamese Party, State and people lost a beloved leader, but the Lao party, State and people also lost a close friend.

President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen sent a letter of sympathy to the General Secretary of CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

He expressed deep sorrow at hearing the news about the death of the late Vietnamese President, who he described as a leader with great contributions to Vietnam’s national construction and development.

President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez sent a message of sympathies to CPV leader and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro Ruz also extended his condolences to CPV leader and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

Vietnam will hold a State funeral for late President Le Duc Anh, with the respect-paying ceremony to be held from 7am-11am on May 3 at the National Funeral Hall, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong street, Hanoi.

The memorial service will be held at 11am on May 3 at the National Funeral Hall, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi. The burial ceremony will take place at 5pm on the same day at the Ho Chi Minh City Cemetery.

At the same time, the respect-paying and memorial ceremonies for the late President will also be held at the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City and the hall of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue.