VIENTIANE: Party and State leaders, led by Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith, on Sunday (Aug 9) paid their final respects to National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane, who passed away on Saturday, as they gathered at the National Convention Hall to place wreaths in his honour.
The solemn ceremony brought together senior Party and State leaders, members of the National Assembly, government officials, representatives of organisations and various sectors of society, as well as the family members of Party and State leaders.
They came to express their profound grief, respect and gratitude for the National Assembly President, who devoted decades of his life to serving the Party, State and people.
The passing of Xaysomphone Phomvihane, a member of the Politburo of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of the National Assembly, is regarded as a great loss to the Party, State and multi-ethnic Lao people.
His death has been deeply felt within the National Assembly, where he spent much of his career and provided leadership in strengthening the legislative body and contributing to national defence, development and the country’s political and socio-economic affairs.
The first delegation to lay a wreath was that of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, led by Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith.
Following this, the Sisoulith family, also led by President Thongloun, paid tribute to the National Assembly President.
The Standing Committee of the National Assembly was represented by a delegation led by a member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Vice President of the National Assembly, Sounthone Xayachack.
The Government delegation was led by Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Prime Minister, Dr Sonexay Siphandone.
The Phomvihane family was represented by a delegation led by a member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Santiphab Phomvihane, while the Siphandone family was led by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
The office of the Party Central Committee was represented by a Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Head of Office of the Party Central Committee, Dr Phet Phomphiphak.
The ceremony also reflected the close ties between Laos and Vietnam, with a delegation from the National Assembly of Vietnam, led by a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, laying a wreath in tribute to Xaysomphone.
Vietnamese delegations from the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defence also attended the ceremony, joining Lao officials and representatives in paying their respects.
Among the Lao delegations was one from the Lao Front for National Development, led by a Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and President of the Lao Front for National Development Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.
The Phommathat family was led by a Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Justice, Khamphan Phommathat.
The Commission for Information and Education of the Party Central Committee, together with the Pheuyavong family, was led by a Politburo member and Head of the Commission, Khamphan Pheuyavong.
Other delegations took part in the wreath-laying ceremony, including representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, ministries, government agencies, organisations, families of Party and State leaders, and the business community.
The tributes continued on Monday, with leaders and officials from line ministries, Vientiane authorities, and former Party and government leaders gathering to pay their respects to the National Assembly President.
Foreign diplomats in Laos also visited the National Convention Hall to express their condolences and pay tribute to Xaysomphone.
The outpouring of condolences from Lao and foreign dignitaries reflects the profound respect and gratitude for Xaysomphone, who dedicated his life and abilities to serving the nation and its people.
Vietnam also declared two days of national mourning, on Aug 10-11, for National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane on Sunday, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
In Laos, the Party Central Committee, National Assembly, Government and Lao Front for National Development have declared five days of national mourning, from Aug 8 to 12.
Wreath-laying at the National Convention Hall will continue until Aug 11, allowing Party and State officials, organisations, foreign diplomats and members of the public to pay their final respects.
Xaysomphone’s cremation will be held with full honours at the That Luang esplanade, starting at 1pm on Aug 12.
Born on Dec 12, 1956, Xaysomphone was one of six sons of President Kaysone Phomvihane and Thongvin Phomvihane. His five brothers are Xaysongkham Phomvihane, Santiphab Phomvihane, Thongsavan Phomvihane, Sanyahak Phomvihane and Ounkham Phomvihane.
His passing marks the loss of a valued leader whose life was intertwined with the development of the Party, State and National Assembly, and whose service will forever be remembered by the Lao people. - Vientiane Times/ANN
