Laos will observe national mourning on July 25 and 26 to commemorate General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, who passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19 in Hanoi, Minister and Head of the Lao Prime Minister's Office Bouakhong Nammavong said at a press conference in Vientiane on Monday.

He added that comrade Nguyen Phu Trong made significant and important contributions to the ceaseless development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, states, and peoples of the two countries. 

His passing is a loss to the Party, state, and people of Laos. 

Therefore, the Lao Party and government decided to observe the state mourning throughout Laos, including at the country's embassies and diplomatic agencies abroad.

Flags will be flown at half-mast and all recreational and entertainment activities will be suspended during the mourning.

The Lao government tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with coordinating with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Office, Commission for External Relations, and relevant agencies to prepare for a high-ranking delegation led by Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to attend the state funeral for the Vietnamese Party chief in Hanoi.

These agencies will coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to prepare for delegations to pay respects, write in the funeral book, and lay wreaths at the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane. 

They were also assigned to coordinate with relevant agencies to inform Lao embassies and diplomatic agencies abroad to pay homage to the Vietnamese Party leader at Vietnam's representative agencies.

Lao ministries, agencies, and organizations at all levels as well as the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association were told to offer condolences to their Vietnamese partners and send delegations to attend the respect-paying ceremonies at the Vietnamese Embassy and Consulate General in Laos.

Lao provinces that share twinning relations with Vietnamese localities will also offer condolences to their partners.

The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism will cooperate with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare for the promotion of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Trong’s contributions to the two countries’ great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation in the mass media.

Vietnam will hold a two-day state funeral on July 25 and 26 for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

A burial service for the Party chief will take place from 3:00 pm on July 26 at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi.

Earlier, Cuba also announced state mourning for the Vietnamese Party leader.

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