Former Politburo member and former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Somsavath Lengsavath. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tú

VIENTIANE — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng's passing is not only a great loss to the Party, State, Army, and people of Việt Nam, but also a huge loss to the Party, State, and people of Laos.

The statement was made by Somsavath Lengsavath, former Politburo member and former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos while talking to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Vientiane.

Expressing his sadness, the former deputy PM said while he was in office, he met General Secretary Trọng many times and understood that the Vietnamese leader was very concerned about how to tighten the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two countries.

Trọng paid special attention to Laos-Việt Nam cooperation, built by President Hồ Chí Minh and generations of Lao leaders, he added.

According to Lengsavath, under the leadership and close direction of General Secretary Trọng, cooperation in politic, and socio-economic areas as well as many other fields between the two Parties and countries has been always strongly developed.

Sharing his feelings and impressions, the former deputy PM affirmed that the General Secretary is truly an outstanding student of President Hồ Chí Minh, dedicating his whole life to the Party and the country.

He said that Việt Nam's Đổi Mới (The Reform) process has achieved many successes thanks to General Secretary Trọng's steadfast adherence to Marxism-Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh thought to the path toward socialism.

Lengsavath highlighted Trọng’s contributions to building socialism in Việt Nam as well as to the socialism-building movement around the world.

General Secretary Trọng is a fair-minded leader, an exemplary example, and always follows Hồ Chí Minh thought, Lengsavath emphasised.

He also praised the role and contributions the Party chief in Việt Nam's anti-corruption campaign which has gained many successes and received applauses from the world. — VNS