Condolences keep pouring in

Condolences from around the world have continued to be sent to Vietnam following the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap, describing his passing as a great loss to not only the Vietnamese nation.

The People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola said that the revered General has set an important example for future generations.

Leaders of the Palestine National Liberation Movement said General Giap’s military feats remain forever as a symbol to nations worldwide struggling for freedom.

The Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity said the deceased will go down in history as a military genius.

Meanwhile, the Party of Italian Communists described the General as an important figure in the history of the 20 th century and a symbol of the struggle for freedom of nations across the world.

To generations of communists, General Giap’s life is the essence of the fight against the imperialism and colonialism, they said.

Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Belgium Peter Mertens said with his courage and revolutionary will, the deceased will live in the mind of all workers and people worldwide.

Leaders of the Egyptian Communist Party also sent a tribute to the General.

On this occasion, foreign diplomats, including the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se, the Israel Ambassador to Vietnam, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonigo, also cabled condolences to Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

The Mongolian Defence Ministry said General Giap has brought pride to Vietnam, stressing that the deceased will live forever in the hearts and minds of the people across the world.

A representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation said the brilliant military strategist has inspired freedom in many nations worldwide struggling for their sovereignty.

Many organisations such as the Vietnamese Entrepreneurs’ Association in Australia, the Vietnamese People’s Association in France, the Chile-Vietnam Culture Institute and the Chile-Palestine Solidarity Committee also cabled condolences.-

More condolences over General Vo Nguyen Giap’s passing

Many heads of state and government and leaders of political parties from foreign countries have sent their condolences to Vietnam over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

In his message to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his deep condolences over the passing of the revered General.

As one of Vietnam’s great military commanders and strategists, General Giap greatly contributed to the struggle for national liberation and those contributions will continue encouraging people worldwide, he affirmed.

Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza, in his condolences addressed to President Truong Tan Sang, called the General a great friend in his country’s fight for national liberation, saying his passing is a huge loss to the Mozambique people.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also extended her deepest sympathies to Vietnam and the deceased’s family, saying General Giap with his patriotism and heroism has inspired the Thai people.

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Teo Chee Hean said the General’s passing leaves him a deep sorrow and called him a great hero.

Vietnam has lost a great hero who has contributed to leading Vietnam to national reunification, he said.

President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong Nam described the deceased as an excellent leader, who devoted the whole of his life to the national liberation and the cause of socialism.

General Giap is a close friend of the DPRK people with a lot of contributions to developing the relationship between Vietnam and the DPRK, he affirms.-

Embassies abroad bid farewell to General Giap

Vietnamese embassies abroad on October 12 held services in memory of General Vo Nguyen Giap who died in Hanoi on October 4.

In the Algerian capital city of Algiers, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika attended the service.

Bouteflika, in his notes, expressed his deep condolences to the family of the General and the Vietnamese Government and people, saying the deceased has left an unfading imprint in the minds of the Algerian people.

Prof. Lee Keun-yeop, 82, former Director of the Vietnam Research Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities who spent many years studying Vietnam and General Giap in particular said the General’s image not only in the hearts of not only the Vietnamese but also the Asian people.

“With the examples like President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap, I believe that the Vietnamese people will do their utmost to build and defend their beloved nation,” he said.

At a service in Mexico, General Secretary of the Labour Party (PT) Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, representatives of the Mexican Communist Party, the Mexican Party of Democratic Revolution and the Mexican, Cuban, Brazilian, Indian, Malaysian and Filipino embassies bid farewell to the General.

Gutierrez also recalled his meeting with General Giap in Hanoi in 2002, describing him as a modest and open man. “We admire him for his wisdom, bravery, military talent and loyalty to the Party, especially his sacrifice to national liberation”.

Vietnam, UK laud 40-year diplomatic ties

A ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam – UK diplomatic ties was held in Hanoi on October 11, reviewing the relations that have come a long way over the past time and become strategic partnership in 2010.

Chairman of the Vietnam - UK Friendship Association (VUKFA) Hoang Van Dung said since its establishment in 1999, the association has called on London volunteer teachers to teach at English language centres and mountainous provinces in Vietnam.

The VUKFA and the UK – Vietnam Friendship Association vowed to do their best to facilitate the development of cooperation among localities, especially in the fight for justice for Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims, he noted, adding that both sides consider them as one of their key missions.

UK Ambassador to Vietnam Antony Stokes said the 2013 year is as a year of significance in bilateral diplomatic ties and marks the 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh arrived in London.

As of the end of last year, the UK had 163 projects worth 2.69 billion USD in Vietnam, becoming the fourth largest European Union investor in the country.

In terms of education-training cooperation, every year nearly 2,000 Vietnamese choose the UK as a destination for university and tertiary education.

Delegates shared view that thanks to the two Governments and peoples’ efforts, the Vietnam – UK relations will blossom.

Vietnam to actively build UN new development agenda

Vietnam will actively engage in the building of the United Nations’ new development agenda for the post 2015 period.

This was asserted by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN Le Hoai Trung at the General Debate of the Second Committee of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York from October 9-11.

During the event, participants voiced their concern over the global economic situation which remains difficult and has negative impacts on employment, social stability and the MDGs realisation, adding that climate change also affects the common sustainable development.

Ambassador Trung said Vietnam strongly believes that one of the UN’s primary priorities continues to be the promotion of the mandates entrusted to the organisation, in particular those related to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

As a country on its way to achieve the MDGs by 2015, Vietnam understands the profound importance of realising the MDGs in lifting people out of poverty, improving people’s lives and contributing to the overall socio-economic development of each nation, the diplomat said.

The country also believes sustainable development lies at the core of the new development agenda, and at the same time it is crucial to create favoural international economic, trade and financial environment to facilitate equitable and inclusive economic growth, he added.

Trung made it clear that while ensuring an open, inclusive and transparent process, building a new development agenda has to be inter-governmental in nature to ensure the accountability of governments.

Principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities are also underscored to guide the process.-

General Giap’s funeral grabs foreign media headlines

Leading media agencies throughout the world have run wide coverage of legendary Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap’s funeral.

Reuters reported that Vietnamese poured into the capital on October 13 to bid farewell to General Giap, the general who masterminded historic defeats of French colonialists and US imperialists to become one of the 20th century's most important military commanders.

It described "Red Napoleon" Giap as a national legend with a domestic standing second only to the leader of Vietnam's struggle against colonialism, Ho Chi Minh.

General Giap was ranked by historians among giants such as Montgomery, Rommel and MacArthur for victories over vastly better equipped armies, Reuters said, adding that General Giap’s funeral has brought a show of unity.

Voice of America (VOA) said streets are blocked off in downtown Hanoi and major public events cancelled this weekend as Vietnam mourns the death of one of its most celebrated war heroes, General Vo Nguyen Giap.

VOA published a photo with former Party leader Le Kha Phieu standing between wreaths before paying respects to the late General at the National Funeral House in Hanoi on October 12.

Tens of thousands of mourners stood in line for hours outside the general’s home, many carrying yellow daisies to pay their respects to the man dubbed Vietnam’s “Red Napoleon” for his role in masterminding the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which ended French colonial rule in 1954, VOA reported.

China’s Xinhua news agency shed light on state funeral for General Giap held across the country on October 12-13, with tens of thousands of people gathering to say farewell to the national hero.

BBC carried an article saying that the general's death has prompted an extraordinary outpouring of emotion. It also reported that the Vietnamese flag outside Hanoi's Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was lowered to half-mast to mark the start of the official mourning period.

Mexican state news agency NOTIMEX stressed that General Vo Nguyen Giap is one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, while the electronic daily Las 24 horas praised the deceased as a military genius who helps expel many armies of foreign aggressors.

Globalpost, America’s world news site, reported that the legendary war strategist is honored at a two-day state funeral in recognition of his role in the war effort against foreign invaders.

Along with President Ho Chi Minh, General Giap was highly respected among the Vietnamese people, the site added.

AFP ran an article featuring Vietnamese people mourning General Vo Nguyen Giap who died last week at the age of 103.

Lauded as a military genius for the guerrilla tactics that defeated both French and American aggressors, the General is being honoured with two days of national mourning.

A photograph of Giap and a gilt frame containing military medals was placed above his coffin, which was draped in the national flag.

His family, wearing black, stood close by while thick clouds of incense filled the room where his body lay in state.

Outside the funeral home, tens of thousands of people gathered - including war veterans with medals pinned to their chests, and teenagers with pictures of Giap emblazoned on their clothes - hoping to catch a final glimpse of the general, AP reported.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his staff pay tribute to General Giap in front of his altar.

Lao Prime Minister Thongsin Thammavong led a delegation to pay tribute and lay a wreath to General Vo Nguyen Giap at the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane on October 12.

In the funeral book, the PM expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of General Giap, who together with other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders always pays much attention to strengthening the Laos-Vietnam friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Delegations of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, National Assembly, Defence Ministry, among others, also paid respect to the late General.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia held a respect-paying service of for General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Mien Sam An, Permanent Deputy Chairwoman of the Cambodia Women For Peace and Development Association, said the passing of General Giap is a great loss not only to the Vietnamese people but also the people in Cambodia and the whole world.

Representatives of the embassies of China , India , Cuba , Thailand , Singapore , Myanmar , and Brunei in Cambodia as well as delegations of the Cambodia Senate and other organisations came to pay tribute to the General.

Also on October 12, the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau ( China ) held respect-paying services for General Giap.

On October 11-12, the Vietnamese Embassy in the US received representatives of the US authorities, Congress and diplomatic missions in Washington , the Vietnamese representative offices and overseas Vietnamese in the US to pay tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong affirmed that the embassy's staff members will always be grateful to the General, who devoted his whole life to the nation's revolutionary cause.

Acting Assistant to the US Secretary of State Scot Marciel, on behalf of the US Government, paid respect to the General, saying that General Giap is an important individual and leader of the Vietnamese people and a supporter to the reconciliation and improvement of the Vietnam-US relations.

US Senator Tom Harkin, who met General Giap when visiting Viet Nam in 1995, asserted that the deceased is a great person who never gives up the fight for national independence.

For his part, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega said General Giap is remembered as one of the leaders who played a key role in the Vietnamese victory against the French colonialist regime.

Representatives of the Lao, Cambodian, Indonesian and Algerian embassies came to bid farewell to General Giap.

In the first day of the regular session on October 10, the Venezuelan National Assembly adopted a resolution to remember General Vo Nguyen Giap and also extended the deepest condolences to the Vietnamese Party, Government and General Giap's family.

At the meeting, Former President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Soto Rojas said the General inspired a solidarity movement for Vietnam in all over the world to protect the basic rights of the nations.

In an interview granted to a Vientiane–based Vietnam News Agency's reporter, former Lao President and former Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, General Khamtay Siphandone said that General Giap had a close relationship with the Lao people and army during the fight against the colonialists and imperialists as well as during peace time.

The former Lao President said the determination of Viet Nam and Laos in building a fighting alliance to create a combined strength to defeat all the enemies is always in his mind.

Embassy in US commemorates General Giap

Vietnamese ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong offered incense to General Vo Nguyen Giap, commemorating one of Vietnam’s greatest military leaders, at a ceremony in Washington DC on October 12.

He highlighted the General’s substantial contributions to Vietnam during the past struggle against foreign aggression and current national development.

Representatives of US Congress, administration, diplomatic corps in Washington DC and Vietnamese nationals in the US, attended the ceremony.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Marciel expressed deep sympathy towards the ambassador following the General’s passing.

In the funeral book, he wrote that General Giap is a key Vietnamese leader who supported reconciliation and improvement in relations between the US and Vietnam.

Senator Tom Harkin recalled his meeting with General Giap in Hanoi in 1995, saying General Giap has taught valuable lessons to everyone struggling for independence, self-reliance and dignity.

In his notes, David Schwartzman, a Washington DC resident, described General Giap as a hero of humankind in the struggle for national liberation against imperialism.  

Vo Thi Thanh Tuyen, a Vietnamese national residing in the Virginia State, told a Washington DC-based correspondent that she was saddened to hear about the General’s passing.

“The General will live forever in our heart and mind because he is a great leader,” she said.

*** The Vietnamese embassy in China held a solemn ceremony in Beijing on October 12 in remembrance of General Giap.

Embassy staff observed a minute’s silence in front of the General’s altar, expressing their sorrow at his passing.

Despite her age, Vu Thi Nhan, 90, travelled to the embassy headquarters, offering incense to the revered general.

Party leader receives Lao delegation

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on October 12 held receptions for Lao delegation who are now in Hanoi to attend the funeral for General Vo Nguyen Giap.

While receiving General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone, Trong emphasized that the Party, State and people of Vietnam will do all they can to, together with the Party, State and people of Laos, nurture and develop the special solidarity and relations between the two countries.

He also expressed sincere thanks to the Lao side for its sentiment to Vietnam, describing it as a manifestation of the rare relations.

For his part, Choummaly Sayasone affirmed that the Party, State and people of Laos will forever nurture the bilateral relations.

He also praised the deceased for his great and active contributions to the building and development of the relations between the two countries.

*** The same day Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin.

Vietnam affirms close ties with Cambodia

Vietnam attaches importance to developing the ties of traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

Trong was speaking while receiving Cambodia’s National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin in Hanoi on October 12.

He congratulated Cambodia on its recent successful parliamentary election, with the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) claiming victory and Heng Samrin elected National Assembly Chairman.

He expressed his belief under the rule of King Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the National Assembly, Senate and royal government, Cambodian people will surmount difficulty, maintain stability and build a prosperous nation.

Trong assured his guest Vietnam gives top priority to developing traditional relations with Cambodia for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Chairman Heng Samrin conveyed condolences of King Norodom Sihamoni, the CPP, National Assembly, Senate and people of Cambodia to the Party, State, National Assembly and people of Vietnam over the recent passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

He spoke highly of General Giap’s significant contributions to Vietnam’s past struggles against colonialists and imperialists for national independence and the current process of national construction and defence.

The same day, Vietnam NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received his Cambodian counterpart Heng Samrin, discussing measures to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two sides.

Quang Ninh, Guangxi bolster cooperation

Quang Ninh and China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region discussed ways to boost mutually beneficial cooperation at a working session in Ha Long on October 11.

Peng Qinghua, Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Party Committee, told his hosts he hopes Quang Ninh will consolidate its place in the vanguard of Vietnam’s Doi Moi (Renewal) process and boldly strive for future success.

Quang Ninh Provincal Party Committee Secretary Pham Minh Chinh said Peng’s visit demonstrates the intent behind Quang Ninh-Guangxi cooperative agreements, strengthening relations between the two nations and localities.

The leaders signed memoranda of understanding on establishing China-Vietnam economic cooperation zones, constructing Bac Luan No2 Bridge, and linking the Dong Xing-Mong Cai-Ha Long highway with the Haiphong-Hanoi road network.

They will build a railway line linking China’s Fangcheng and Dongxing and Vietnam’s Mong Cai-Ha Long-Haiphong route, and upgrade border gate pairs between the two sides.  

They also agreed to diversify trade, service, and tourism ties in an effort to improve their general quality and promote each locality’s advantages.

Guangxi provincial leaders have committed to granting more scholarships to Quang Ninh students and help the Vietnamese province train tourism experts.

Source: VNA/VOV