US President sends letter of condolences over Vietnamese Party leader’s passing
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his trip to Vietnam to offer incense in tribute to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and extend condolences to his spouse and family, handed over a letter of condolences from President Joe Biden to President To Lam on July 27 evening.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expresses condolences to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's spouse Madam Ngo Thi Man (right) (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi, (VNA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his trip to Vietnam to offer incense in tribute to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and extend condolences to his spouse and family, handed over a letter of condolences from President Joe Biden to President To Lam on July 27 evening.
In the letter, Biden extended condolences from his wife and himself to the Party leader’s spouse Ngo Thi Man and all the people of Vietnam.
He wrote, “The people of the United States and Vietnam have a deep and important shared history. When I first met General Secretary Trong in Washington in 2015, it was clear he believed that as well. In the years that followed, we worked together to overcome the pain of the past to seize the promise of the future – not only for our people but also for people across the Indo-Pacific region. It brought me great pride to stand together during my state visit to Hanoi last year as we marked a new era of cooperation between our nations and saw some of that promise realised.
“It was a testament to our common aspirations for the world – one of greater peace and prosperity for all. But it was also a testament to General Secretary Trong’s personal commitment to raise our partnership to the highest level, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership . The United States will never forget his leadership. And we fully support a strong, resilient, and independent Vietnam, to which he dedicated his life.”
The US President cited the Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du as writing that “Thank Heaven we are here today to see the sun through parting fog and clouds,” and affirmed that General Secretary Trong played an indispensable role in parting the clouds over the 50-year arc of progress between the two nations.
He concluded the letter by vowing that “We will honour his memory by carrying on his legacy and continuing our important work."
Secretary Blinken (sitting) writes in the condolence book at General Secretary Trong's house (Photo: VNA)
Meanwhile, Secretary Blinken described General Secretary Trong as a visionary leader who helped heal the wound of war and built bridges of peace and partnership between Vietnam and the United States, when he wrote in the condolence book at the late Party leader's house in Hanoi.
“He will long be remembered by the American people,” Blinken noted.
Secretary Blinken offers incense in memory of General Secretary Trong at his house (Photo: VNA)
On behalf of the late leader’s family, Madam Man said she was deeply moved at the warm sentiment of the US, President Biden himself and Secretary Blinken for her husband. She expressed belief that the two nations will continue to effectively implement the Joint Leaders’ Statement dated September 2023 to further the development of bilateral ties in the interests of the two peoples.
☂ Man also extended sincere thanks and best regards to President Biden, his spouse and family./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 27 evening received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who came to offer condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam as well as the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong over the Party leader's passing.
On behalf of Vietnamese Party and State leaders, President To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 27 for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who came to Vietnam to offer condolences and pay tribute to late General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.
The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) welcomed nearly 100 delegations during the two days of national mourning to pay their respects, wrote in the condolence book and express sorrow and gratitude for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at its headquarters in New York on July 25 and 26.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
