Many countries worldwide have extended condolences to Vietnam over the death of President Tran Dai Quang, while Cuba has declared national days of mourning for the late President.

President Tran Dai Quang spoke at the new school year ceremony at Chu Van An Senior High School in Hanoi on September 5. (Photo: VNA)

In an announcement on the State television on September 21 evening (local time), the Council of State of Cuba said the mourning time would be from 6:00 hour on September 22 to 24:00 hour on September 23. During the period of mourning, the Cuban flag would be hoisted at half mast at public buildings and military institutions nationwide. Public shows and festive activities would be suspended during the period.

Earlier the same day, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez sent his condolences to the Vietnamese people, and a minute of silence was dedicated to the Vietnamese State leader before the working session at the National Assembly’s headquarters.

In his condolence message, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he was extremely shocked and deeply mournful after being informed of the death of President Tran Dai Quang.

On behalf of the Japanese government and people, PM Abe extended his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese government, people and the late President’s family.

He highly appreciated President Quang’s wholehearted devotion to fostering the friendship between Vietnam and Japan, voicing his special respect for the late Vietnamese leader for having successfully chaired the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang city last November as well as having made significant contributions to the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), dubbed TPP-11, at the conference.

As a strategic partner with Vietnam, Japan is deeply mournful over the passing of President Tran Dai Quang, PM Abe said, wishing the late Vietnamese leader rest in peace.

On the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Kono Taro also conveyed his condolences over the death of President Quang, wishing the late leader rest in peace and expressing his hopes that the Vietnamese government and people would soon overcome such a painful event to continue further developing the country of Vietnam.

Concerning the demise of President Tran Dai Quang, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to the Vietnamese people and the family and friends of the late Vietnamese leader on Friday, according to the Kremlin’s media department.

On September 21, Cambodian PM Hun Sen conveyed a letter of condolences to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc over the demise of President Tran Dai Quang, in which he emphasised that President Quang is “a great and admirable leader of the country and people of Vietnam, and a good friend of Cambodia.”

“On behalf of the Royal Government and people of Cambodia, I would like express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam as well as the bereaved families for the great loss of their beloved one,” he said.

The U.S. Department of State issued a press release on September 21 expressing sadness over the passing of President Tran Dai Quang.

President Quang strongly supported U.S.-Vietnam relations and helped bring their bilateral partnership to a new level on the basis of mutual respect, shared interests and a shared goal of promoting peace, cooperation, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.

Also on September 21, the Government of Venezuela cabled a message of sympathy to the Government and people of Vietnam for the death of President Quang. In a statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry highlighted the Vietnamese President’s political career and hailed him as a pillar in efforts to strengthen a multi-polar world and for harmony and cooperation among countries.

In a message of condolence to the Vietnamese Government and people on September 21, the Government of Argentina said during the tenure of President Tran Dai Quang, the strategic relationship between the two countries have been constantly strengthened and developed. It said President Quang will be forever remembered by the Government and people of Argentina.

The same day, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina Victor Kot offered his sympathy to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people over their great loss. He wrote in a message on social network that President Tran Dai Quang had devoted all his life to the struggle for a better world.

President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto also extended his deep condolences to the Vietnamese people over the death of President Quang in a message on Twitter.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deepest condolences to the Party, nation and people of Vietnam and the family of President Tran Dai Quang. “We have fond memories of his great friendship for India and his successful state visit in March this year,” he wrote in a message on Twitter.

Also on September 21, the Government of Nicaragua, the Foreign Ministries of Bolivia and Paraguay, and the ruling Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador sent messages of sympathies to the family of President Quang, and the Government and people of Vietnam.

President Tran Dai Quang passed away at 10:05am on September 21 in Hanoi at the age of 62 due to serious illness.

After the passing of President Tran Dai Quang on Friday, an array of prestigious international media agencies from Australia, Russia, Japan, the UK, the U.S., France, the Philippines, Singapore, Germany, India, and China, covered the sad news./.

VNF/VNA/NDO