ASEAN foreign ministers observe a minute's silence on the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission in Laos on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tú

HÀ NỘI — Senior leaders of ASEAN countries on Wednesday issued a message of condolences on the passing of Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam.

The message reads:

It is with deep sadness that we learnt of the passing of His Excellency Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam on 19 July 2024.

In this time of national grief and mourning, we wish to extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng’s family and loved ones, as well as the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam.

General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng’s leadership and lifelong service to his people and country will be profoundly remembered and his contributions to regional and international peace, friendship and cooperation will be an invaluable and enduring legacy.

Also on the same day, at the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, the first activity within the framework of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, foreign ministers of ASEAN countries also observed a minute's silence to express their deep sadness on the passing of the Vietnamese Party General Secretary, a leader who made important contributions to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world. — VNS