Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Lê Khả Phiêu. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Top leaders of China, Laos, Cambodia and Cuba have extended their profound condolences to Vietnamese Party and State leaders, people and family of former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee Lê Khả Phiêu over his passing.

In a message of condolences sent to Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng on August 8, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping said comrade Lê Khả Phiêu was an eminent leader of the Vietnamese Party and State who led the Vietnamese people to great victories in the process of socialism building and renewal. He was also a close comrade and friend of the Chinese Party and people, contributing to the building of the China – Việt Nam relationship under the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and looking forward to the future”.

China attaches great importance to strengthening and upholding the bilateral traditional friendship, and stays ready to promote political trust and solidarity with Việt Nam, as well as ties between the two Parties and nations and the socialism building cause of each country, he said.

The Chinese leader believed that under the firm leadership of the CPV Central Committee led by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Việt Nam will reap new achievements in the cause of socialism building.
Earlier, on August 7, the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, President, Government, National Assembly of Laos, and the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction also conveyed messages of condolences to the CPV Central Committee, President, Government, National Assembly, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and family of comrade Lê Khả Phiêu. 

They said the late leader made great contributions to the national liberation cause of Laos, stood side by side with the Lao people’s army in important campaigns to gain the final victory in 1975. He also dedicated to fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people over the past time.

The same day, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni; President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen; President of the National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin and President of the Senate Samdech Say Chhum also sent messages of condolences to Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng, other senior leaders of Việt Nam and the family of former Party General Secretary Lê Khả Phiêu.

The Cambodian leaders said comrade Lê Khả Phiêu’s passing was a great loss of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, adding that Cambodia has lost a good and long-time friend who contributed to enhancing solidarity, close cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and Việt Nam. 
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez also extended a condolence message to Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

The Cuban leaders said they will forever remember meaningful contributions of the late Vietnamese leader to strengthening and developing the historic relationship between the two nations.

Calling Phiêu "a great friend of Cuban people," Cuban leaders recalled the meeting between the Vietnamese Party leader and Cuba's President and First Secretary Fidel Castro Ruz in 1999 and 2003. — VNS