World leaders continue offering condolences over President Tran Dai Quang’s passing

The leaders of Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the ASEAN Secretariat have offered their condolences to Vietnamese leaders over the passing of President Tran Dai Quang.

President Tran Dai Quang (1956-2018) (Photo:VNA)
President Tran Dai Quang (1956-2018) (Photo:VNA)

In his message sent to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 22, Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah expressed his deepest sympathies to the Vietnamese government and people. He recalled fond memories with President Tran Dai Quang, including their meeting at the APEC Summit in Da Nang in November 2017 and the reception for the late Vietnamese leader and his spouse during their state visit to Brunei in 2016. The sultan expressed his belief that President Tran Dai Quang’s contributions would always be appreciated and remembered by the people of Vietnam.

On September 23, the spokesperson for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated that the Philippine leader had offered his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese government and people on the passing of President Tran Dai Quang. He recalled the warmth and hospitality extended by President Quang during his state visit to Vietnam in 2016 and at the APEC Summit in 2017.

On September 22, Singaporean leaders sent letters of condolence to Vietnamese leaders. President Halimah Yacob offered her condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party of Singapore, to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean to President Tran Dai Quang’s spouse Madame Nguyen Thi Hien.

Singaporean leaders praised President Tran Dai Quang’s numerous contributions to the development of Vietnam and for raising Vietnam’s standing in the region and the world. They stated that President Quang was a true friend of Singapore, contributing significantly to the close strategic partnership between Singapore and Vietnam.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha extended his deepest sympathies on the passing of President Tran Dai Quang. In a message sent to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Thai PM emphasised the vision of President Tran Dai Quang on cooperation for a stable and prosperous region at the 2017 APEC Summit, which he described as an important legacy for Vietnam and other countries in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; and President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Toshihiro Nikai have sent messages of condolence to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group Pham Minh Chinh. In his message, PM Abe said he was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of President Tran Dai Quang. On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, he would like to extend his deepest condolences to the Government, people of Vietnam and the family of President Tran Dai Quang. The late President had promoted a great deal of leadership in establishing close cooperation in many areas of the Japan-Vietnam extensive strategic partnership. May he rest in peace, the Japanese PM noted.

President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea expressed his deep condolences on President Quang’s passing. In a message sent on September 21, the RoK President expressed his deepest sympathies to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam and President Tran Dai Quang’s family. He highly appreciated the friendship between the two countries’ Presidents as well as the great contributions made by President Tran Dai Quang to the development of the two countries’ cooperation. President Moon Jae-in said that he would continue to deepen the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership.

In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Lim Jock Hoi also expressed his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese Government and people, as well as the family of President Tran Dai Quang. He wrote, “The contribution of the President in his career and the precious legacy that the President left will be a source of inspiration for all people.”

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World leaders have also sent letters of condolence to Vietnamese leaders on the passing of President Tran Dai Quang.

*The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros sent a message of condolences to the Vietnamese government and people.

*Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladeshi President Md. Abdul Hamid sent their condolences to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

*Brazilian President Michel Temer sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

*The Government of Panama conveyed their condolences to the Vietnamese government and people.

*Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga sent a message of condolences to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong.

* Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

* King Mohammed VI of Morocco sent a message of condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

* Brahim Ghali, Secretary General of Polisario Front and president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) sent a message of condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

* Amir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Emir of Qatar Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Prime Minister and Minister of interior of Qatar Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent their condolences to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong.

* Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah of Kuwait sent their condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

* Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, sent their condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.