Hanoi (VNA) - Journalist Khieu Kola, Senior Advisor to the President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) has shown mourning for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing, and his regret at no longer having the opportunity to continue experiencing, sharing and spreading interesting stories and profound works and articles by the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to the people in Cambodia.
Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Phnom Penh, Kola, who is also senior editor of the CNC news website and television channel under the Royal Group in Cambodia, said he was shocked by the sad news, stressing that the Vietnamese Party leader devoted his whole life to his nation, and for regional and international security.
The General Secretary of the CPV visited the US and many other countries around the world, helping to elevate the position of Vietnam, the Cambodian journalist said, adding that General Secretary Trong has noble moral qualities and simple lifestyle, and is a deserving disciple of President Ho Chi Minh.
From the perspective of a professional journalist, the Cambodian journalist expressed his sorrow and admiration for the talent of the famous and excellent writer - Nguyen Phu Trong, former editor-in-chief of the Communist Review of the CPV.
Kola said that he remembers many words and sentences in the Vietnamese Party chief 's articles and speeches, and he is particularly impressed by the speeches related to anti-corruption, along with the famous saying that demonstrated the determination of the CPV's leader to fight corruption: "Once the furnace is getting hot, even wet firewood will burn.”
According to Kola, through his works, General Secretary Trong aimed to convey a message of education and warning to officials and Party members not to be degenerate or alienated from the people. They should not cause difficulties or act as masters but must be servants of the people, and need to clearly understand their role in serving the public, lead a simple life, be absolutely loyal to the ideal of independence and freedom, and study and follow the teachings and moral example of President Ho Chi Minh.
Expressing his admiration for the General Secretary, Kola said with his unique expression and use of words and phrases in his speeches and writings, the Vietnamese Party chief demonstrated the spirit and ideal of an exceptional writer and a great leader.
The Cambodian journalist said he enjoys reading works and articles about stories related to the activities of General Secretary Trong in his role as the head of Vietnam's Central Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Corruption and Negative Phenomena, adding that he is impressed by the viewpoints and practical efforts in the anti-corruption work in Vietnam.
Kola has edited and translated and written many articles for the CNC television channel, which have been shared and republished by many media outlets in Cambodia.
Kola said that more and more people in Phnom Penh and other places in Cambodia are aware of the Vietnamese Party leader. They call him "the integrity old man in Hanoi", who led the fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, Weiwei, an expert on Vietnam studies and journalist at China Media Group (CMG), also expressed his sorrow and said that now the people of China have also lost a person who consistently promoted relations between the two countries, a companion in the cause of socialism.
Weiwei highlighted General Secretry Nguyen Phu Trong's significant contributions to Vietnam's national construction and developement, improving the people's lives, and advancing the work of Party building and combating corruption.
He cited Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping as saying that comrade Nguyen Phu Trong devoted his whole life to many policies and the cause of the Party and the nation of Vietnam. He made outstanding contributions to the cause of Vietnam's renewal process, door-opening and socialism building, as well as to the development of the world socialist movement.
The Chinese journalist said he had the honour of meeting General Secretary Trong many times during interviews. He was deeply impressed by the Vietnamese Party chief 's gentle demeanour and profound knowledge.
Under his leadership, Vietnam achieved rapid economic development, significantly improved its international position, and made notable progress in anti-corruption efforts, Weiwei went on.
On July 26, representatives from many agencies, ministries, localities, and scholars, former officials who previously worked in Vietnam, representatives of diplomatic corps in Beijing, and a large number of oversease Vietnamese continued to come to the Vietnamese Embassy in China to pay their respects General Secretary Trong.
Notably, Cheng Guisheng and Mao Wanli, currently residing in Henan province, paid tribute to the Vietnamese Party leader, and presented a portrait of the General Secretary against the backdrop of the Vietnamese national and Party flags, which is inscribed with words of Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping when he came to the embassy to sign the condolence book: "Deeply mourning comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, an outstanding leader of the Vietnamese people, and a great friend of the Chinese people."
According to Cheng, he and Mao completed the portrait in just three days and nights, working with all their affection and reverence, so that they could present it at the memorial service in Beijing.
For his part, Ling Dequan, former head of the Xinhua News Agency office in Hanoi, said he also made an effort to attend the memorial service to pay respects to a comrade he deeply admired, who was also a senior student in the same faculty and same university in Vietnam.
He spoke highly of the significant contributions of comrade Trong to Vietnam's reform efforts, as well as the advancement of the China-Vietnam relations.
Ling expressed his hope that Vietnam’s renewal process will continue to develop and achieve greater accomplishments, and the relationship between the two Parties, countries, and peoples will also keep advancing to new heights.
Like Ling, Hu Suojin, former economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, also emotionally shared that General Secretary Trong was a great friend of the Chinese people./.
