Vo Chi Cong (real name Vo Toan), former President of the State Council, former Chairman of the National Defence Council and former Deputy Prime Minister, died on Sept. 8 at the age of 99.

In a special communique jointly issued on Sept. 8, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee said that Vo Chi Cong, born in Tam Xuan commune, Tam Ky district, Quang Nam-Da Nang province (now Quang Nam province) died of old age and a serious illness at Thong Nhat hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vo Chi Cong, who was also a former Politburo member, former Party Central Committee Secretary, former advisor to the Party Central Committee and a deputy to the National Assembly, 6 th , 7 th and 8 th tenures, made great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and nation.

He was conferred with the Golden Star Order by the Party and State and the 70-year Party badge and many noble orders and medals.
The communique said that Vo Chi Cong’s death is a loss to the Party, State and people, and he will be honoured with a State funeral.

Tributes to the late leader will take place on Sept. 10 and 11 at the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City and a solemn commemoration ceremony will be held in the early morning of Sept. 12 at the hall.

He will be buried at the city’s cemetery on Sept. 12.

Vietnam Television (VTV) and Voice of Vietnam (VOV) will broadcast the commemoration and burial ceremonies live.

At the same time as these ceremonies in Ho Chi Minh City, ceremonies to commemorate Vo Chi Cong will also be held at the International Convention Centre in Hanoi and at the headquarters of Quang Nam province./.