Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the memorial ceremony for former President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and former President of Laos, Khamtay Siphandone, in Vientiane on April 7.

Vietnam observed two days of national mourning on April 4–5 in honor of the late Lao leader. On April 3, General Secretary To Lam led a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam to Vientiane to pay final respects to Khamtay Siphandone.

On April 4, at the Lao Embassy in Hanoi, State President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered their condolences.

In recent days, Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad and Vietnamese communities have also visited Lao embassies in various countries to express their grief and respect.

Khamtay Siphandone was born on February 8, 1924, and passed away on April 2 at the age of 101. He formerly served as President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, President of Laos, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense.

He was a close and trusted friend of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam, and made tremendous contributions to building, strengthening, and developing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Although Khamtay Siphandone has passed on, generations of leaders from both countries will continue to preserve and nurture the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos, a relationship cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong, and the successive leaders of both nations.

Tran Thuong