Laos Declares National Mourning for Vietnam’s Party Leader
Laos will observe a national mourning for Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, on July 25 and 26. Minister and head of the Lao Prime Minister’s Office, Bouakhong Nammavong, announced this at a press conference in Vientiane on July 22.
Nguyen Phu Trong passed away in Hanoi on July 19 at the age of 80.
The announcement highlighted the significant contributions of Nguyen Phu Trong to the ongoing development of the strong friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, and peoples of Laos and Vietnam. His passing is seen as a great loss of a close and trusted friend to the Lao Party, State, and people. Consequently, the Lao Party and Government decided to observe state mourning in Laos and at their embassies and diplomatic missions abroad by flying flags at half-mast and suspending all forms of entertainment activities.
The Lao Government has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Office, the Commission for External Relations, and relevant agencies to prepare for a high-ranking delegation. This delegation, led by the General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President of Laos, will attend the funeral in Hanoi.
These bodies will also coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to facilitate delegations paying respects, writing in the funeral book, and laying wreaths at the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane. They will inform embassies and diplomatic missions of Laos abroad to pay homage to the late leader at Vietnam’s representative bodies in their host countries.
The announcement specifically noted that during the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Laos from July 21 to 27, the Lao Foreign Ministry needs to ensure appropriate arrangements and notify all participating delegations, especially regarding the organization of banquets and festivals.
Lao ministries, agencies, and organizations from central to local levels, as well as the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association, are to extend condolences to their Vietnamese partners and send delegations to the respect-paying ceremonies at the Vietnamese Embassy and consulates general. Additionally, Lao provinces with twinning relations with Vietnamese localities are to offer condolences to their partners.
In Vietnam, a two-day national mourning for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will also be observed on July 25 and 26.
