The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, President and Government of Vietnam on May 17 sent a message of condolences to their Lao counterparts over a military plane crash that killed some high-ranking officials of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and government.

“We greatly mourn over the sudden decease while on assignment of Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Douangchay Phichit; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and Minister of Public Security Thoongbane Sengaphone; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training Cheuang Sombounkhanh; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary and Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Vientiane Sukhan Mahalad and some other senior officials,” the message wrote.

This is a great loss to the Party, State, National Assembly and Government of Laos as well as to their families, the message said, adding the Vietnamese leaders and people also suffer from the loss of their close comrades and friends who made active contributions to consolidating and developing the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two nations.

The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, State and Government of Vietnam extend the deepest sympathy to their Lao counterparts and the families of the deceased officials.

“We believe that the Lao Party, State and people will soon overcome this great loss to continue their national construction, protection and development,” said the message.-VNA