Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will be in Hanoi on Thursday to attend the state funeral of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Vietnam announced on social media on Wednesday.

After the event, Borrell will travel to Laos to participate in the annual Ministerial Meeting between the EU and the ASEAN, as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting, the announcement reads.

The EU ambassador in Hanoi had previously announced that Borrell would visit Vietnam from July 29 to 31 to discuss how to boost cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in areas including security and sustainable development.

However, he adjusted his plan to attend the state funeral of the Vietnamese Party chief in Vietnam on July 25, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s source.

He will also lead his high-level mission to Hanoi on July 29-31 as scheduled after his visit to Laos.

The delegation of the EU in Vietnam shared the condolences of EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier on the passing of Party General Secretary Trong on its website on July 20.

“We express our heartfelt condolences to the leadership and to the people of Vietnam on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. His commitment and dedication to the nation have left an indelible mark on Vietnam’s history and development," the EU delegation said in a statement.

“During his lifetime, Vietnam developed from a war-torn country to a prosperous middle-income nation with impressive economic growth rates and promising potential."

The EU ambassador stated that Party General Secretary Trong played a pivotal role in strengthening Vietnam’s position on the global stage and fostering meaningful partnerships with the international community, including the European Union, with a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement, and a number of bilateral agreements having been forged between the union and Vietnam under his watch. 

“Thanks to these agreements, EU-Vietnam cooperation has flourished across numerous areas, including trade, sustainable development, peace and security, climate change, and energy transition," Guerrier said.

“As we reflect on the legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, we extend our best wishes for the future to the leadership and people of Vietnam in this time of mourning. 

“We look forward to working closely with the Party, State, and National Assembly leadership to continue deepening our relationship. We remain committed to further strengthening our ties and working hand in hand to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“Our thoughts are with the General Secretary‘s wife and family. May his contribution to Vietnam’s strategic autonomy and prosperity continue to inspire future generations.”

Among top officials from other countries set to travel to Vietnam to attend the state funeral, scheduled to take place on July 25 and 26, are Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Don McKinnon.

The Party chief passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will lie in state at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street in Hanoi.

The ceremony for Party General Secretary Trong will be held at the National Funeral Hall from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on July 25 and from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm on July 26.

It will be followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm on July 26.

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

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