Xi Jinping Mourns the Passing of Nguyen Phu Trong, Strengthening China-Vietnam Ties
Beijing, July 20, 2024—Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the Embassy of Vietnam in China on Saturday to pay his respects following the passing of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.
Nguyen Phu Trong was lauded by Xi as a staunch Marxist and a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people. “He devoted himself entirely to the CPV and the country, to the Vietnamese people, and to the cause of socialism in Vietnam,” Xi stated, emphasizing that Nguyen Phu Trong had earned deep respect and admiration from the party, military, and people of Vietnam.
Over the past decade, Xi and Nguyen Phu Trong maintained close contact, developing a deep camaraderie. Last year, they jointly announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a China-Vietnam community with a shared future carrying strategic significance—a milestone in China-Vietnam relations.
“The passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong has deprived us of a promoter of China-Vietnam relations and a companion for the cause of socialism. We are deeply saddened,” Xi expressed. He added that Nguyen Phu Trong’s outstanding contributions to the relations between the two parties and countries, and to the global socialist movement, will always be remembered.
Xi Jinping affirmed that the CPC and the Chinese government firmly support the CPV in uniting and leading the Vietnamese people to develop socialism that suits Vietnam’s national conditions. “It is believed that under the strong leadership of the CPV Central Committee, the Vietnamese people will surely be able to turn grief into strength and continue to make greater achievements in the cause of renovation, opening up, and socialist construction,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that China and Vietnam will continue to work together to make profound and solid progress in building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
Vietnamese Ambassador to China, Pham Sao Mai, acknowledged Xi’s visit and the message of condolences sent by the CPC Central Committee. “It shows the great importance the CPC and the Chinese government attach to the relations between the two parties and the two countries,” the ambassador remarked, expressing deep gratitude.
Ambassador Pham Sao Mai noted that Nguyen Phu Trong had attached great importance to developing relations with China and made significant efforts and contributions to the friendship between the two countries. “Vietnam will carry on Nguyen Phu Trong’s legacy to implement the important common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries,” he said.
He emphasized that Vietnam will continue to prioritize friendship and cooperation with China as a strategic choice and the top priority of Vietnam’s foreign policy, pushing forward the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future carrying strategic significance.
(With input from Xinhua)
(Cover: Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President, mourns the passing of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Embassy of Vietnam in Beijing, China, July 20, 2024. /Xinhua)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
