(VOVworld)- The public and media in Vietnam and the world have in the recent days been pouring praise on General Vo Nguyen Giap, a “national hero”, a “talented general”, an “outstanding strategist” and “one who inspired freedom all over the world”.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and former US Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara in Hanoi in 1995 (Photo: AFP)

The Lao People's Revolutionary Party's Central Committee has extended its profound grief over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap, saying General Giap was an excellent disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, the first General of  Vietnam and the supreme commander of the Vietnamese People's Army, who was loved and respected by the Vietnamese people and foreign friends.

The President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party Samdech Chia Xim, who is also Speaker of the Cambodian Upper House sent condolences to Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and the Party’s Central Committee. The message praised the great contributions that General Vo Nguyen Giap, a leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, made to the national liberation and development toward socialism. The message described General Giap’s passing away as a great loss for the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.

The Uruguayan Foreign Ministry on Sunday released a message from President Jose Mujica sent to President Truong Tan Sang conveying Uruguay’s condolences on the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap. President Jose Mujica stressed that General Giap was an outstanding strategist and the one who inspired freedom all over the world with his belief that people were the key to victory.

The General Secretary of the United Left Movement of the Dominican Republic (MIU), Miguel Meejia, sent a message of condolence to the leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The message said that the General had always been and would forever be an inspiration to those who are fighting for freedom, happiness and peace.

In Germany, the Suddeutsche ran an article about General Giap’s life, revolutionary career and great contributions. The TAZ daily said that the Vietnamese people called General Giap a national hero and loved and respected him just as they did President Ho Chi Minh.

Japan’s Asahi newspaper on Monday wrote that General Vo Nguyen Giap was a national hero and that his passing away was a great loss for the Vietnamese Party, State and Army. The newspaper said General Giap was not only an outstanding general during the war but also a sincere person, who loved nature and respected history.