HCM CITY — Current and former leaders of the Party and State as well as people from all walks of life on March 20 participated in a ceremony to pay tribute to the late PM Phan Văn Khải at Thống Nhất Hall in HCM City. 

The delegations included the former PM’s family, followed by delegations of the Party Central Committee, the State President, the National Assembly, the Government and the Việt Nam Fatherland Front.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, head of the funeral organising committee, spoke about the former Prime Minister, saying he had made great contributions to the cause of the Party and the nation.

In the funeral book, Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng wrote: “Extreme mourning for comrade Phan Văn Khải - Mr Sáu Khải, former member of the Politburo, former Prime Minister, deputy to the National Assembly VIII, IX, X and XI, outstanding leader of the Party, the State and our people, who devoted all his life to making great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the people.”

“The loss of the comrade is a great loss to our Party, State and people, leaving all of us with deep grief. Farewell to the beloved Sáu Khải! Please accept our deepest condolences,” Trọng wrote.

The state funeral organising committee hold a two-day state funeral for the late PM who passed away on Saturday. 

It will be followed by a memorial service at the hall at 7:30am on March 22. The burial ceremony is scheduled at 11am the same day in his hometown, Tân Thông Hội Commune in HCM City’s Củ Chi District.

On March 20, all State offices and public facilities flew the national flag at half-mast and all entertainment activities were suspended, which will be continued today.

Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải passed away at 1:30am on Saturday in Củ Chi District where he was born on December 25, 1933. He was 85. 

As one of the highest-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase of the country’s đổi mới (renewal) and nation-building cause, Khải was active in building institutions under the spirit of đổi mới and using the capacities of all economic sectors, especially the private sector, and opening the door to the world and integrating the country internationally. 

During his nearly two working terms, fundamental laws in the first phase of the đổi mới and door-opening process were enacted. 

The Government chaired by PM Khải left its mark with the issuance of the Business Law, the annulment of hundreds of licences, involvement in many tough talks to negotiate Việt Nam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and more. 

The Party and State presented PM Khải the Gold Star Order and the 55-year Party Membership Badge (2014) in recognition of his dedication to the country’s revolutionary cause. 

Tribute-paying and memorial ceremonies took place at the International Convention Centre at Lê Hồng Phong Street in Ba Đình District in Hà Nội at the same time as those in HCM City. 

The ceremonies were broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV) and Voice of Vietnam (VOV). — VNS