Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese embassies in Cambodia, China, India and the Republic of Korea and South Africa have held ceremonies to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai who passed away on March 17.

In Cambodia, local authorities and the Vietnamese community came to the embassy in Phnom Penh to pay homage to the late PM.

A Cambodian Royal Government delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly. Writing on the book of condolences, he showed thankfulness to former PM Khai for his efforts to reinforce the Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation.

He expressed deep sympathy to the family of former PM Khai as well as Ambassador Vu Quang Minh.

Yim Chhay Ly stressed that Cambodian people always keep in their mind the services of former PM Khai who made important contributions to the development of Cambodia.

The ceremony also saw a delegation from the Cambodia’s Senate led by Vice President Tep Ngorn, and another from the National Assembly led by Vice President Nguon Nhil.

A similar ceremony was also held at the Vietnamese General Consulate in Kunming, the capital city of China’s Yunnan province, which was attended by Zhang Guohua, Deputy Governor of the province who led a delegation of local authorities to pay homage to the late Vietnamese leader.

Consul Generals of a number of countries in Yunnan, including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Bangladesh also came to pay homage to former PM Khai.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V.K Singh came to the Vietnamese Embassy to pay homage to former PM Khai and wrote on the funeral book. He conveyed deep sympathy to the family of the late leader as well as the Government and people of Vietnam.

In a meeting with Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh later, Singh recalled contributions of former PM Khai to the development of Vietnam.

Representatives of diplomatic corps, organisations as well as the Buddhist community in India also came to commemorate the late leader.

On March 20-21, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea held a memorial service for former PM Phan Van Khai.

Extending condolences to Vietnam over the passing away of the former leader, Deputy Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that former PM Khai will be remembered as a great leader of Vietnam and Asia.

On March 21, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa issued a press release stating that South Africa extends condolences to Vietnam over the death of former PM Phan Van Khai.

The document highlighted great contributions of the late leader to the national construction and development of Vietnam, as well as his role in boosting the growth of the Vietnam-South Africa ties.

In 2004, the late leader visited South Africa, and he and then President Thabo Mbeki held talks and set up the Vietnam-South Africa inter-governmental partnership forum on economic, trade, science, technology and culture cooperation, it noted.

South African President Cyril Ramaphose also sent a message of condolences to the Government of Vietnam.

Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai passed away at 1:30 on March 17 at Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, aged 85. - VNA