Condolences pour in over passing of President Tran Dai Quang

Many heads of state and governments of foreign countries have sent their condolences to Vietnam over the death of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang.

Late Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang (1956-2018)
Late Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang (1956-2018)

* World leaders offer condolences on President Tran Dai Quang’s passing

On behalf of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, the National Assembly and Government of Laos and the Lao Front for National Construction, Party General Secretary and President, Bounnhang Volachit, cabled a message of condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the National Assembly and Government of Vietnam, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on September 21, in which he expressed his deep condolences over the passing of President Quang.

“We highly appreciated the contributions made by President Tran Dai Quang to the protection, construction and development of Vietnam, especially in the fields of security and social order. He significantly contributed to the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos over the past few years,” the message read.

The Lao leader stressed that President Quang’s death is a huge loss to both the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States and peoples.

The same day, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China, Xi Jinping, extended his condolences to Party General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong. He wrote, “We are shocked to hear that comrade Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has passed away. On behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and people, as well as in my own name, I extend the deepest condolences to you and to the CPV and the government and people of Vietnam.”

"We are deeply saddened by his passing away," Xi added.

He expressed his belief that under the strong leadership of the General Secretary and the CPV, the Vietnamese government and people will transfer their grief into strength and continuously make new achievements in the cause of socialist construction.

The Chinese president also extended his deepest condolences to the family of President Quang.

In an announcement on State television on September 21 evening (local time), the Council of State of Cuba declared national days of mourning for late Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, saying that the mourning period will be from 6:00 on September 22 to 24:00 on September 23. During the period of mourning, the Cuban flag will be hoisted at half-mast at public buildings and military institutions nationwide. Public shows and festive activities will also be suspended during the period.

Earlier the same day, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernandez, sent his condolences to the Vietnamese people and a minute of silence was dedicated to the Vietnamese State leader before the working session at the National Assembly’s headquarters.

Also on September 21, the Government of Venezuela cabled a message of sympathy to the Government and people of Vietnam over the death of President Quang. In a statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry highlighted the Vietnamese President’s political career and hailed him as a pillar the in efforts to strengthen a multi-polar world and for harmony and cooperation among countries.

In a message of condolences to the Vietnamese Government and people on September 21, the Government of Argentina said that, during the tenure of President Tran Dai Quang, the strategic relationship between the two countries has been constantly strengthened and developed. It said President Quang will be forever remembered by the Government and people of Argentina.

The same day, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina, Victor Kot, offered his sympathy to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people over their great loss. He wrote in a message on a social network that President Tran Dai Quang had devoted all of his life to the struggle for a better world.

President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, also extended his deep condolences to the Vietnamese people over the death of President Quang in a message on Twitter.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his deepest condolences to the Party, nation and people of Vietnam and the family of President Tran Dai Quang. “We have fond memories of his great friendship for India and his successful state visit in March this year,” he wrote in a message on Twitter.

Also on September 21, the Government of Nicaragua, the Foreign Ministries of Bolivia and Paraguay and the ruling Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador sent messages of sympathy to the family of President Quang and the Government and people of Vietnam.

US President Donald Trump has offered condolences to the family of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and the Vietnamese people over the passing of the Vietnamese State leader.

The statement from the President released by the Office of the Press Secretary of the US White House on September 21 read, “It was with sadness that I learned of the passing of President Tran Dai Quang”.

“President Quang was a great friend of the US. He graciously hosted me during my historic state visit to Hanoi in November 2017 and I am grateful for his personal commitment to deepening the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership,” President Trump said.

“We will not soon forget his contributions to peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region or his voice for Vietnam as a proud and independent nation on the world stage,” he added.

On the same day, Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, sent his heartfelt condolences to the Vietnamese people and the leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State over the death of President Tran Dai Quang.

In an official statement released on September 21, the Egyptian President's spokesperson said President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi affirmed that President Quang had made important contributions to developing and promoting the relations between Egypt and Vietnam.

President Tran Dai Quang passed away at 10:05am on September 21 in Hanoi at the age of 62 due to serious illness.

He was elected State President of Vietnam at the 11th session of the 13th National Assembly on April 2, 2016.