Hanoi (VNA) – The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, President and Government of Vietnam on July 23 sent a message of condolences to their Lao counterparts over the death of former Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Saman Vinhaket.
“On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam , we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Party, State and people of Laos as well as family of comrade Saman Vinhaket,” read the message.
“The passing away of comrade Saman Vinhaket is a great loss to the Party, State and people of Laos and his family, as well as a pain for the Party, State and people of Vietnam for losing a close friend and a comrade who made important contributions to the building, reinforcement and development of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos,” it said.
Saman Vinhaket, who passed away on July 22, was former member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee (tenure II and III), former Secretary of the third LPRP Central Committee, and former Politburo member of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th tenure. He was also former chairman of the third, fourth and fifth National Assembly of Laos.
He served as head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, Minister of Education, Defence Minister, head of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Armed Forces and head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Steering Commission for Ideology, Theory and Culture.
Also on July 23, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also conveyed his condolences to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.
Other Vietnamese Party, State and National Assembly leaders also sent condolences to their Lao counterparts over the great loss.-VNA
