PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends state funeral of former Lao PM

A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the state funeral of former Politburo member, former Prime Minister of Laos and former Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Sisavath Keobounphanh (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 13 led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State to attend the state funeral of former Politburo member, former Prime Minister of Laos and former Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Sisavath Keobounphanh, who passed away a day earlier.

On this occasion, PM Phuc met with Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit, and PM Thongloun Sisoulith.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc pays a courtesy visit to Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith (Source: VNA)

On behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, PM Phuc expressed his deep condolences to the Lao Party, State and people and the bereaved.

He said former PM Sisavath Keobounphanh was not only a talented and virtuous leader of Laos, contributing greatly to the fraternal Lao people's revolutionary cause, but also a faithful, wholehearted friend and close comrade of Vietnam during the struggles for national defence and construction of the two nations.

His passing was a huge loss to the Lao Party, State and people and the bereaved, PM Phuc said, adding that Vietnam has lost a great friend who made important contributions to building, reinforcing and developing the great bilateral friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

On behalf of the Lao Party, State and people, the Lao leaders thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for sharing their condolences over the passing of the former Lao PM.

Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for supporting Laos over the past time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also praised Vietnam for its achievements in curbing the disease, and initially recovering economic activities.

PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam is willing to provide more assistance for Laos so that the two countries could stabilize the situation and focus on socio-economic development soon.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith (Source: VNA)

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination to implement effectively agreements reached at the 42nd inter-governmental meeting, and recover economic partnership in the post-pandemic period.

The Lao leaders spoke highly of Vietnam's successful assumption of the role as the ASEAN Chair 2020, especially addressing the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while intensifying the bloc’s cooperation by successfully holding video conferences, particularly the ASEAN and ASEAN 3 summits on COVID-19.

Laos pledged to continue working closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfill its roles as the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure./.