HANOI: Nguyen Phu Trong, the chief of the ruling Vietnam Communist Party, passes away on Friday at the age of 80, state media reported.
According to the party, Nguyen breathed his last at 1.38 p.m. local time (0638GMT) at the Central Military Hospital in Hanoi. Nguyen was the top leader of the ruling party for over a decade.
The news of his death came a day after Vietnam’s President To Lam assumed duties as the party’s chief yesterday. The party’s charge was handed over to President To after it was reported that Nguyen was being given medical treatment.
The party has called upon the people and the army to put their trust in the new leadership and strengthen unity and solidarity.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of China has sent condolences on Vietnam leader’s death, top leader Nguyen Phu Trong, Chinese state television said.
“The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sends a condolence message” to its Vietnamese counterpart, CCTV said in a brief statement after the announcement of Trong’s death.
