General Secretary To Lam leads the Vietnamese delegation to visit comrade Khamtay Siphandone

On April 3, upon hearing the news of the passing of General Khamtay Siphandone, former Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, former President, and former Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, General Secretary To Lam led a delegation of senior leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam to pay their respects to comrade Khamtay Siphandone.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam also had meetings with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, General Secretary To Lam expressed his sorrow at the passing of comrade Khamtay Siphandone and sent his deepest condolences to senior Lao leaders, all Lao people and comrade Khamtay Siphandone's family.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Comrade Khamtay Siphandone was not only an outstanding leader of the first generation to build the Lao revolution, leading the previous national democratic revolution and the cause of protecting and developing the country, a pioneer leader in implementing the comprehensive renovation policy of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, but also a loyal, devoted, and devoted friend, a close comrade, always standing shoulder to shoulder with Vietnam throughout the struggle to protect the Fatherland and build the country of the two peoples.

His passing is a great loss to the Party, State and people of Laos and Vietnam.

General Secretary To Lam announced that to express gratitude for comrade Khamtay Siphandone's contributions to the development of the close and lasting relationship between Vietnam and Laos, the Party and State of Vietnam have decided to hold a national funeral.

The Lao high-ranking leaders sincerely thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their condolences on the passing of comrade Khamtay Siphandone, and expressed their emotion at the fact that General Secretary To Lam led a delegation of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to attend the funeral and that Vietnam decided to hold a state funeral for comrade Khamtay Siphandone, demonstrating the great traditional relationship and special solidarity, loyalty and closeness between the two countries as well as the personal feelings of General Secretary To Lam and the Vietnamese leaders.

This is a great encouragement and sharing of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the Party, State and people of Laos.

On behalf of his family, comrade Sonexay Siphandone sincerely thanked and appreciated comrade General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam as the first delegation to come to express condolences to the Lao Party, State and family on the passing of comrade Khamtay Siphandone, demonstrating the close relationship and extremely deep affection for his beloved father - the great leader of the Lao Party, State and people.

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, General Secretary To Lam and Lao leaders reviewed the glorious revolutionary career of comrade Khamtay Siphandone since he joined the Indochinese Communist Party, especially his activities associated with the Vietnamese revolution and with the Vietnamese revolutionary leaders, and affirmed that these are vivid manifestations of the rare close and loyal bond between the two Parties, two States and the revolutionary causes of the two nations.

Lao senior leaders affirmed that although comrade Khamtay Siphandone has passed away, the next generations of Lao leaders will continue to work with the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam to consolidate and nurture the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos that President Ho Chi Minh, President Kayson Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong and generations of leaders of the two countries have worked hard to build and develop.

General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated Laos's active preparation for Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 12th National Congress early next year, emphasizing that the current streamlining and reorganization of the Lao apparatus is extremely important work, a positive signal contributing to promoting the development process of Laos in the new period; at the same time, affirming that Vietnam is ready to continue to support and assist Laos in the cause of national construction, protection and development.

Expressing gratitude for the support of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the Lao revolutionary cause, senior Lao leaders said that Laos is studying and applying lessons learned from Vietnam, resolutely innovating to meet the needs of national development and improving the quality of people's lives.

At the meetings, the two sides highly appreciated the positive progress in bilateral relations; agreed to regularly exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones; continue to coordinate effectively to implement the agreements reached, including the results of the meeting between the three leaders of the Parties of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia, affirming that Vietnam and Laos need to stand side by side, support and assist each other to the utmost to foster the great friendship and special bond between the two Parties, two States, and two peoples to stay forever green, blossoming and bearing fruit.