The delegation laid wreaths at the coffins of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Douangchay Phichit; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and Minister of Public Security, Thoongbane Sengaphone; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training, Cheuang Sombounkhane; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Vientiane, Sukhan Mahalad and other senior officials.
The Vietnam delegation was joined by Politburo member and Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc; member of the CPVCC and Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army and Vice Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty; member of the CPVCC and Permanent Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Dang Van Hieu; member of the CPVCC and Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan; member of the CPVCC and Chairwoman of Hanoi People’s Council, Ngo Thi Doan Thanh; Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, Nguyen Manh Hung, together with many representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CPVCC Commission for External Relations, the CPVCC Commission for Communication and Education; and the CPVCC Office.
In the memorial book, the Vietnamese officials expressed their deep sympathy over the officials’ death, which they said was a great loss to the Party, State, National Assembly and Government of Laos, as well as to their families. The Vietnamese leaders and people also suffered a great loss, since their close comrades and friends made active contributions to consolidating and developing the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two nations, they said.
After the memorial service, the Vietnamese delegation was received by Lao Party General Secretary and President Chummaly Saynhasone.
On behalf of the delegation, Politburo member Le Hong Anh conveyed to the Lao side the deepest sympathy from the CPVCC, National Assembly and Government of Vietnam, as well as from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung over the deaths of the Lao officials.
The Vietnam Politburo member Anh also expressed his belief that the Lao Party, State, National Assembly, Government and people would overcome the pain to continue with the cause of national construction and defence.
He affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam would continue to join hands with the Party, State and people of Laos to nurture the traditional Vietnam-Laos friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation which have become an invaluable asset for both nations and an extremely important factor that ensured each country’s security and development.
Lao Party General Secretary and President Chummaly Saynhasone thanked the Vietnamese Party and Government for their message of condolences and sending a delegation to the burial ceremony for the deceased officials.
He also reaffirmed the determination of the Party, State and people of Laos to boost the traditional Vietnam-Laos friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation.
The Lao people would turn their sorrow into actions to fulfil the tasks set by the 9th Congress of the LPRP, he noted.
Also on the occasion, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Co-operation Sub-Committee Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Politburo member, Party Central Committee’s Secretary and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education Dinh The Huynh; Politburo member and Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh; Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang; Politburo member and Secretary of Hanoi Party Committtee Pham Quang Nghi; Party Central Committee member, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh; and Party Central Committee member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan sent messages of condolences to the Lao side.
The Lao officials died when Lao Air Force aircraft AN-74TK-300 crashed near Nadi village, Pec district in Xieng Khouang province of Laos, at 07:00 on the morning of May 17.
