Laos declares national mourning for Vietnamese Party chief
VOV.VN - Laos is set to observe a period of national mourning for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong on July 25 and June 26, Minister and head of the Lao Prime Minister's Office Bouakhong Nammavong announced at a press briefing held in Vientiane on July 22.
The Vietnamese leader passed away on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80.
The announcement states that the Party General Secretary made significant contributions to the constant development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive ties that exist between the Parties, States, and peoples of the two countries.
His passing is therefore a loss of a close and trusted friend to the Party, State, and people of Laos. In lien with this, the Lao Party and Government has decided to observe a state mourning period in Laos and at both nations' embassies and diplomatic missions abroad from July 25 to June 26 by flying flags at half-mast and suspending all forms of entertainment activities.
According to the announcement, the Lao Government has entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to co-ordinate efforts with the Laos People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Office, Commission for External Relations, and relevant agencies to prepare for a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State led by the General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President of Laos to attend the funeral for the deceased in Hanoi.
The agencies will work alongside the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to prepare for delegations to come to pay their respect, write in the funeral book, and lay wreaths at the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane. They have also been assigned to co-ordinate with relevant agencies to inform the embassies and diplomatic missions of Laos abroad to pay homage to the late leader at Vietnamese representative bodies in the host countries.
The announcement particularly notes that during the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings held in Laos from July 21 to July 27, the country's Foreign Ministry needs to ensure appropriate arrangements and give notifications to all participating delegations, especially regarding the organisation of banquets and festivals.
Laotian ministries, agencies, and organisations from central to local levels, as well as the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association, will extend their condolences to their Vietnamese partners and send delegations to attend the respect-paying ceremonies which will be held at the Vietnamese Embassy and consulates general in localities. Meanwhile, Laotian provinces which share twinning relations with Vietnamese localities are to offer condolences to their partners.
In Vietnam, a two-day national mourning for Party General Secretary Trong will also be held on July 25 and June 26.
