General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong passed away on July 19, 2024. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

“It is with deep sadness that we learnt of the passing of His Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet 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 Nguyen Phu Trong’s family and loved ones, as well as the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” according to the statement.

“General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’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,” said ASEAN senior leaders.

At the conference of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Committee (SEANWFZ) in Vientiane on Wednesday, ASEAN Foreign Ministers observed a minute of silence to express their deep condolences to the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The conference was the first event of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in Laos.