Ex-Japanese PM to mourn passing of Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam
Thursday, July 25, 2024, 06:36 GMT+7
Former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide will come to Vietnam to attend the state funeral of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Japanese government said on Tuesday.
He will take part in the mourning activities on Thursday as Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's special envoy, The Manichi reported.
Suga paid an official visit to Vietnam in October 2020, during which he met with Party chief Trong.
The then-prime minister’s selection of Vietnam for his first overseas trip after taking office in September 2020 demonstrated the special attention he gave to this Southeast Asian country as well as the Vietnam-Japan bilateral ties.
Suga now serves as advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance.
Bilateral ties between the countries have enjoyed significant outcomes over the past years.
Hanoi and Tokyo elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on November 27, 2023. The upgrade of the ties coincided with the two sides celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
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| Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) hosts a reception for Japan’s Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in Hanoi as part of the Japanese leader’s visit to Vietnam, October 19, 2020. Photo: Vietnam Government Potal |
Japan is Vietnam’s largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) loans, third-largest investor, and fourth-biggest trade partner.
Suga is among top officials from many countries traveling to Vietnam to attend the state funeral, which takes place on July 25 and 26.
These top officials include 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; and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Don McKinnon.
The Vietnamese Party chief passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80.
He lies in state at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street in Hanoi.
The ceremony for the Party leader is 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 takes place from 3:00 pm on the same day at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi.
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