A delegation representing the Party, State and Government of Vietnam led by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai attended the funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias on March 8 .

Nearly 60 delegations of heads of state, representatives of international organisations and millions of Venezuelan people and international friends took part in the event.

At the funeral, Hai extended the deepest condolences of the Vietnamese people and Party, State and Government leaders to the Venezuelan people, Government, National Assembly and the late President’s family.

Hugo Chavez’s passing is a great loss to Venezuela, and Vietnam has lost a close friend who once stood side by side with the Vietnamese people during the country’s difficult time, the Deputy PM said.

Vietnamese people will never forget the valuable support and contributions of the late President and Venezuelan people during Vietnam ’s struggle for independence and reunification, as well as the national construction process.

Vietnam will do its best, together with Venezuelan leaders and people, to enhance the solidarity and maintain and uphold the two countries’ fine relations, which were fostered by Hugo Chavez and various generations of leaders from the two countries, he affirmed.

Earlier, other Vietnamese Party, State and Government leaders sent their condolences to Venezuela over the death of President Hugo Chavez and paid tribute to him at the Venezuelan Embassy in Hanoi.-VNA