Saadi Salama, Ambassador of the State of Palestine and head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam, affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had left a remarkable legacy in the country's development process and confirmed Vietnam's new position on the international stage. Above all, he is a typical representative of the culture and civilization of the Vietnamese people.

His great legacy

The Party and State of Vietnam have lost their esteemed leader, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. As a long-time friend of Vietnam, how did you come to hear about this?

When I heard that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had passed away, I was deeply saddened. While on an overseas business trip, I rushed back to Vietnam to bid farewell to my role as Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam and Ambassador of the State of Palestine.

With his noble personality and tireless contributions, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has earned his place among the most respected leaders in Vietnam's modern history. A simple, humble, and honest man, he left a deep impression on the people and many foreign leaders.

The passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a great loss to the Vietnamese people.

Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam Saadi Salama. Photo courtesy of the Ambassador

What do you think about the role of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam's development in recent years?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is Vietnam's highest authority from 2011 to the present. Over the past 13 years, he and the Vietnamese leadership have steered Vietnam to many achievements in the country's development and to an important position in the international arena.

The economy is growing at one of the world's highest rates, people's lives are constantly improving, and the infrastructure is much improved. "Bamboo diplomacy" is conducted comprehensively and effectively. Vietnam has succeeded in expanding relations with all countries in the world, consolidating and promoting relations with major countries and strategic partners, while maintaining an uncompromising respect for international law.

With his noble personality and tireless contributions, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has joined the list of the most respected leaders in Vietnam's modern history.

He has always put the interests of the country, the nation and the people first. In his work and daily life, he has become a role model and hope for realizing the aspirations of a strong country.

 As a leader, political theorist and cultural scholar, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left a legacy as a source of inspiration and hope for the future.

What impressed you most about General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's leadership and country governance?

What has impressed me most about the General Secretary is his determination to fight corruption. He has led the Party and the State to implement many comprehensive anti-corruption solutions. This has yielded excellent results and has helped the Vietnamese people to gain more trust in the Party and its leadership.

He was a leader with courage, and I firmly believe that the anti-corruption and negative policies initiated by the General Secretary will help Vietnam continue to develop and strengthen the position of the Communist Party. It is always the direction that the next generation of leaders needs to learn and follow.

Nguyen Phu Trong, then Chairman of the National Assembly, welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Hanoi on  May 24, 2010. Photo: VNA

A typical Vietnamese patriot

Among the many occasions you have had to meet General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, what memories would you like to share?

It was a great honor for me to accompany Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his visit to Vietnam in 2010 and to be received by the General Secretary, then Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam. That's when I got my first impression of him - a Vietnamese leader who was fully informed about the situation and history of Palestine. I was very impressed by his remarks on Vietnam-Palestine relations and Vietnam's unwavering support for the just cause of Palestine.

The words of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong have become a source of motivation and inspiration for the Palestinian people to continue on the path of national liberation. Vietnam's support is very important because it is the support of a nation that won independence and freedom with its blood. This is the lesson that justice will definitely prevail.

Therefore, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese leaders always receive respect and appreciation from Palestinian leaders and people.

Upon hearing the sad news, President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his regret and sorrow over the death of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He sent his condolences to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, affirming that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is an outstanding leader and a great friend of Palestine.

What impression do you have of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's personality?

He is a person who lives and works according to the example of President Ho Chi Minh, one of the few leaders in the world who lives very humbly, lives for the people, and always upholds the interests of the people and their country. The image of a simple, unassuming, incorruptible person and an excellent disciple of President Ho Chi Minh will forever be engraved in the hearts of the Vietnamese people and those who had contact with him, including myself.

I always remember his words: "What's the point of having so much money? You can't take it with you when you die. Honor is the most sacred and noble thing." This is a saying that awakens many people who are too preoccupied with the pursuit of material values.

I think the General Secretary is not only a political and diplomatic leader but also a typical representative of the culture and civilization of the Vietnamese people. There, people appreciate the value and honor of a person. He is truly a typical Vietnamese patriot.

Not only is he an outstanding leader with great prestige, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is also a an erudite theoretician with far-reaching and broad vision. He has left behind many important theoretical works, with profound thoughts on the path of innovation, socialism and the path to socialism.

How do you assess the theoretical legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong for Vietnam?

I have read a number of works by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, including the book Some Theoretical and Practical Questions on Socialism and the Road to Socialism in Vietnam. I highly appreciate the General Secretary's thoughts and once wrote an article analyzing the value and significance of this important work, considering it to be one of the rare theoretical contributions since socialism encountered major problems and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

As a politician and political theorist, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has explained and clarified the way to further develop the country and move towards socialism in Vietnam. This is a valuable resource for those interested in Vietnam's success in innovation and international integration.

The General Secretary's works will be an important support for Vietnam's future leaders to continue on the appropriate path to develop the country.

I also believe that Vietnam's success will provide many valuable lessons for countries and peoples seeking their paths.

I would like to reiterate my deepest condolences to the Party, the State, the people of Vietnam and the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

As a long-time friend of Vietnam, I mourn the passing of the General Secretary and firmly believe that the leaders of the Party and the State of Vietnam will continue on the path set by President Ho Chi Minh and other leaders.  

Thanks for your time.