Leaders of Asian countries have sent their condolences to Vietnam over the death of President Tran Dai Quang, as well as shown their respect for him through directions for national mourning.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (R) pays tribute to President Tran Dai Quang at the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand on September 24

President Tran Dai Quang passed away at 10:05am on September 21 in Hanoi at the age of 62 due to serious illness. He had served as the President of Vietnam since April 2016.

On September 24, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office announced two days of national mourning for the Vietnamese leader. It requested ministries, relevant agencies, and all localities to fly flags at half-mast from 6am on September 26 to 6pm on September 27, and to suspend all entertainment activities nationwide during this time.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith, on behalf of the LPRP Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction, also sent a message of condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has also offered his profound condolences to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Government of Vietnam, and the bereaved family.

The Premier said President Quang had devoted his entire life to the reform and construction of Vietnam, as well as greatly contributing to the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation. His passing is a big loss to the Vietnamese people, as well as the bilateral relationship.

Li voiced his belief that under the steadfast leadership of the Vietnamese Party and Government, the Vietnamese people will turn their grief into strength and use it to make new achievements in the cause of socialism building.

On September 24, Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to pay tribute to President Quang.

In the condolence book, he wrote that, on behalf of the Government and people of Thailand, he would like to offer their sympathies and deepest condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam over the passing of President Quang.

The President’s contributions to Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will always be remembered and respected, PM Prayut added.

He told Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Nguyen Hai Bang that he once met with President Quang and was impressed with the late leader’s dedication to the country. He hoped that the Vietnamese Government and people will overcome this loss to continue promoting the two countries’ relations.

Bang thanked the Thai PM and people for their sentiment and also appreciated the PM’s order that flags be flown at half-mast for three days, from September 24 to 26, at Government agencies and State-owned businesses in Thailand in commemoration of President Quang.

The same day, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai also paid respect to the late President of Vietnam at the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok.

On September 23, hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers, as well as Vietnamese nationals in Laos attended a requiem in commemoration of President Tran Dai Quang at Phat Tich Temple in the capital city of Vientiane.

More condolences to Vietnam over President’s passing

President Tran Dai Quang passed away on September 21 in Hanoi at the age of 62 due to serious illness 

Leaders of foreign countries have continued to send their condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people as well as the family of President Tran Dai Quang over the death of the President.

On September 22, Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah cabled a message of condolences to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, expressing his deepest sympathies to the Government and people of Vietnam on the passing of President Tran Dai Quang.

He recalled his memories with the late President during his visit to Vietnam to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017 in Da Nang last November and the Vietnamese leader’s State visit to Brunei in 2016.

He expressed his belief that President Quang’s contributions will be always remembered by the Vietnamese people.

On September 23, spokesperson of the Philippine President said President Rodrigo Duterte extended his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese Government and people over the decease of President Tran Dai Quang.

He also recalled the warm welcome President Quang had given to him during his State visit to Vietnam in 2016 as well as at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017.

The Singaporean leaders also condoled with their Vietnamese counterparts on the death of the President. In their messages, they praised President Quang for his great contributions to the national development, thus continuously improving the position of Vietnam on the international and regional arenas.

They affirmed that the late President is a close friend of the Singaporean people and made great contributions to deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, stressing President Quang’s vision of cooperation for a stable and prosperous region at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017 is an importance legacy for Vietnam and regional countries.

In his message, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on behalf of the Japanese Government and people, he extended the deepest sympathies to the Vietnamese Government and people and the family of the late President.

President Quang greatly contributed to building close cooperation in various spheres of the Japan-Vietnam strategic partnership, he noted.

President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in also condoled with the Vietnamese Party, State and people, and the family of President Quang. He spoke highly of the late leader’s great contributions to developing the bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi cabled a message of sympathies to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, saying that the late President’s devotions will be a source of inspiration for all people.

Condolences also came from President Nicolas Maduro Moros of the Bolivariana de Venezuela, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Md. Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh, Brazilian President Michel Temer, the Government of Panama, Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga, Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Amir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among others.

VNA