Foreign leaders send condolences to Vietnam over President Tran Dai Quang’s passing

In his letter to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad expressed his deep condolences to the family of President Tran Dai Quang and the people of Vietnam; appreciating the late President’s contributions to strengthening Malaysia-Vietnam relations and believing that the Vietnamese people will be strong in this difficult time and continue the late President’s aspirations to transform Vietnam into a prosperous country.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind sent a message of condolences to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The message stated that President Tran Dai Quang was a great patriot, politician and good friend of India. His passing is a great loss to the Vietnamese government and people as well as the Indian government and people. The Indian leader stated that he was honoured to welcome President Quang at his state visit to India in March 2018 and that India would always remember President Quang’s contributions to deepening the time-honoured friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

In his message of condolences sent to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, French PM Edouard Philippe stated that he was saddened and moved to learn the news of President Quang’s death and would like to offer the sincere condolences to the Vietnamese leader on behalf of the French government.

In his message of condolences sent to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that he was shocked at the news of President Tran Dai Quang’s death. He praised the late leader’s contributions to promoting Vietnam’s international integration as well as the Vietnam-Germany friendly relationship, adding that President Quang’s contributions would always be appreciated and remembered.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May offered her condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, emphasising that President Tran Dai Quang was a strong supporter of strengthening the UK-Vietnam strategic partnership.

In his message, Italian President Sergio Mattarella conveyed the deepest condolences to Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and the people of Vietnam. He recalled the meeting with President Tran Dai Quang during his visit to Italy in November 2016, stating that President Tran Dai Quang made important contributions to the development of the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership.

In a joint letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated that they learned with sadness the passing away of President Tran Dai Quang, adding that President Quang assumed the highest responsibilities of Vietnam with the commitment and determination to promote Vietnam's role in the world and strengthen its relations with Europe.

On behalf of ASEAN leaders, Singapore, the chair of ASEAN in 2018, sent a letter of condolences to the family of President Quang, the government and people of Vietnam. On September 26, at the 17th meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, a minute of silence was observed in memory of President Tran Dai Quang. The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia also flew the organisation’s flag at half-mast from September 25-27.

* Leaders of many other countries also offered their condolences to the Party, State and people of Vietnam and the family of President Tran Dai Quang, including Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Azerbaijani Ilham Aliyev, New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, Polish President Adrzej Duda, Bulgarian Rumen Radev, Moldovan President Igor Dodon, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, King of Sweden Carl Gustaf, Swiss President Alain Berset.

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi also sent his condolences to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

* On September 26, many senior officials, ambassadors and chargé d’affaires of foreign countries and representatives of international organisations as well as overseas Vietnamese paid respects to President Quang.

The Cambodian delegation was led by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hunsen, while the delegation from Laos was headed by Vice President Phankham Viphanvanh; from China led by Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China Zhao Leji; from Cuba led by Vice President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Roberto Morales Ojeda; from Russia led by Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma of Russia Epifanova Olga Nikolaevna; from the Republic of Korea led by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon; and from Singapore led by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya led the Thai delegation; Special Envoy of President Joko Widodo, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto headed the Indonesian delegation; Head of the Myanmar Government Office Thoong Tun led the Myanmar delegation.

The delegation from Japan was headed by Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Nikai Toshihiro; from Belarus led by Chairman of the Council of the Republic of Belarus’ National Assembly Mikhail Myasnikovich; from the World Federation of Trade Union led by General Secretary George Mavrikos. Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Non-residential Pontifical Representative to Vietnam, and Cardinal Nguyen Van Nhon also led delegations of the Vatican and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, respectively.

Foreign delegations, representatives from consulate generals of countries and international organisations in Ho Chi Minh City paid respects to President Quang and wrote on the condolence book at Thong Nhat Hall.