Cuba and Laos have announced national mourning in memory of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, who passed away on July 19. 

The flag is to be flown at half-mast. Photo: Tien Tuan/Dan Tri

The neighboring country of Laos will observe two days of national mourning, including Lao diplomatic representative offices abroad. There will be no entertainment and the flags will be flown at half-mast.

A high-ranking delegation led by Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith will attend the memorial and funerary services for the Vietnamese General Secretary on July 26-27 in Hanoi.

Additionally, the Lao government will send delegations to the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane to pay tribute to Trong.

Earlier in their condolences, Lao leaders praised him for his unwavering commitment to the cause of national unification, the Party’s reforms, the advancement of Vietnam, and the enhancement of the nation’s standing in the region and the world.

Meanwhile, Cuba would formally observe mourning from 6 a.m. on July 20 (local time) until midnight on July 21, with the state observing a full day of mourning on July 22, reported Granma, the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba.

During the period of national mourning, all public buildings and military offices will fly their flags at half-mast, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced shortly after the passing.

The Cuban National Assembly on July 19 held a minute of silence to pay posthumous tribute to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who visited the Caribbean country in 2012 and 2018.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in a message of condolence to Vietnamese State President To Lam said that Cuba will remember General Nguyen Phu Trong as a great brother and tireless promoter of the special friendship between their Parties, National Assemblies, Governments, and peoples.

“Our dear friend Trong will be remembered by successive generations of Cubans as a pillar of our everlasting friendship and a great brother, always willing to lend a helping hand in the face of the most complex challenges,” stated the message.