In mourning: Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha monks paying their respect to Trong at the national funeral house during the first day of a two-day-national mourning in Hanoi. — AFP
The country began a two-day state funeral service to bid farewell to Nguyen Phu Trong, 80, the leader of its ruling Communist Party who died a week earlier.
Amid tight security yesterday, hundreds of people took to the streets of Hanoi around a downtown funeral house and went to his family home outside the capital to pay their last respects to the South-East Asian country’s once most powerful man.
State officials and foreign dignitaries, including European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen, President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines, were seen attending the funeral.Other foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China’s top political adviser Wang Huning and Indian security adviser Ajit Doval are also expected to be in Hanoi to bid farewell to Trong.
“My infinite condolences to Comrade General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, an exceptional leader, a steadfast communist party member, a shining example of constantly studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology,” Vietnam’s President To Lam, who has temporarily taken over Trong’s duties, wrote in the funeral book, referring to modern Vietnam founding father.
No public entertainment was allowed and flags at offices and other public places are being flown at half-mast during the two-day period.
“He devoted his life to the people and the nation, and I thanked him for that and wish to say good buy to him,” said Hanoi resident Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, 68, while she queued in front of the funeral home yesterday.
Cuba and Laos, Vietnam’s communist friends, have also held state funeral for the leader.
During Trong’s time as party head, Vietnam recorded an average annual economic growth of 5.79%, one of the fastest in Asia.
Trong also led Vietnam to boost its relations with global powers, including the United States and China, as part of its “bamboo diplomacy”, as the country tried to navigate rising global disputes and maintain economic growth. — Reuters
