Mai Thao, Chairman of the Vietnamese People’s Association in Cuba, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that Vietnamese people in Cuba are deeply saddened by the news of the leader’s death, which is a great loss to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam.

He described General Secretary Trong as an eminent cadre who dedicated his entire life to the revolution and people and always worked with a strong revolutionary spirit to serve the Party and join hands with people to develop Vietnam into an increasingly beautiful nation as President Ho Chi Minh wished.

The Party chief had special sentiment towards Cuba and used to visit to Caribbean nation for many times while serving in different positions, Thao continued, noting that he used to meet the General Secretary for several times and still remembers the leader’s request that political ties are the No. 1 priority of the Vietnam - Cuba relations, but economic links have yet to match that, so it is necessary to bring bilateral economic partnerships on par with the political ties.

Highlighting the leader’s substantial contributions, Nguyen Hong Son, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan, said while acting as Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, Trong greatly helped with the development of the capital city. The policies on urban development, cultural heritage preservation, and infrastructure improvement he initiated helped create a modern and civilised Hanoi that still maintains its traditional beauty.

Japanese friends, for many times, were surprised with Hanoi’s development and perceived that this result was largely attributed to the local leadership, Son said.

As the National Assembly Chairman, Trong made a number of important decisions helping build and perfect the legal system, boost administrative reform, and enhance the parliament’s supervisory role. His clear-sighted and strong leadership made considerable strides in improving the legislative body’s efficiency and contributed to the building of a law-governed, democratic, and civilised state.

Meanwhile, as Party General Secretary, he continued showing his leadership talent and devotion to the country, Son added.

Son voiced his belief that OVs will further trust and support the homeland thanks to the leaders working for the people’s sake like the General Secretary. In particular, the anti-corruption campaign, launched by the Party leader, has reinforced trust among the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Impressed by the General Secretary’s high sense of responsibility and care for every aspect, from economy, society to people’s life, Le Trung Thanh, a PhD postgraduate in Beijing (China), described Trong as a talented leader who always paid attention to people’s life.

Thanh also expressed his admiration for the Party chief’s determination in the corruption fight, adding that the leader led and took many strong measures to clean the state apparatus, enhance transparency, and promote social equality, which subsequently reinforced people’s trust in the Party and State.

He shared that Trong not only stood out in terms of politics but also made large contributions to education, cultural and social affairs. He always exerted all-out efforts for national development and people’s happiness and put the Fatherland’s interests above all.

The diversity and comprehensiveness in his leadership style helped generate various achievements for the nation and raise Vietnam’s stature and prestige in the international arena. In Thanh’s eyes, the leader’s simplicity, accessibility, and willingness to listen to people’s opinions made him like a gentle and beloved uncle, the postgraduate said.

Expressing the sadness about Trong’s passing, Ninh Viet Thong, a Vietnamese in Thailand, said he could feel the leader’s warm and sincere sentiment towards OVs when the General Secretary visited Thailand or the time Thong returned to the homeland and had a chance to meet the Party chief, who always promoted the Party and State’s policy of considering OVs as an integral part of Vietnam.

Nguyen Van Hoa, another expatriate in Thailand, said the OV community are always grateful to the General Secretary, who pushed Vietnam on the path of development and reform to become a rich and strong country and be known widely at international forums.

For her part, Phan Bich Thien, member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Chairwoman of the Fund for Hungary - Vietnam Relations, President of the Vietnamese Women Forum in Europe, and Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese People’s Association in Hungary, said the passing of General Secretary Trong was a great loss, calling the deceased as a bright example of dignity, a dedicated and visionary leader working for the people’s sake, a citizen devoting himself to the nation, and also a humanistic person.

She said the leader always paid attention to the intensification of the great national solidarity. To OVs, he became a symbol of their trust in the Party, Government, and homeland.

Recalling the General Secretary’s meeting with OV representatives in Hungary during his visit to the European nation in 2018, Thien said the leader enquired after each people. Though the meeting was initially scheduled to not last for long, he still allowed the event to be extended so that he could listen to all opinions and aspirations of OVs. This was a vivid demonstration of a leader always open to people’s feelings and working to the people’s sake./.