The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, President and Governmentof Vietnam on May 17 sent a message of condolences to their Laocounterparts over a military plane crash that killed some high-rankingofficials of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and government.

“We greatly mourn over the sudden decease while onassignment of Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and DefenceMinister Douangchay Phichit; LPRP Central Committee’s Secretary andMinister of Public Security Thoongbane Sengaphone; LPRP CentralCommittee’s Secretary and head of the LPRP Central Committee’sCommission for Propaganda and Training Cheuang Sombounkhanh; LPRPCentral Committee’s Secretary and Secretary of the Party Committee andGovernor of Vientiane Sukhan Mahalad and some other senior officials,”the message wrote.

This is a great loss to theParty, State, National Assembly and Government of Laos as well as totheir families, the message said, adding the Vietnamese leaders andpeople also suffer from the loss of their close comrades and friends whomade active contributions to consolidating and developing thetraditional friendship and special solidarity between the two nations.

The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, Stateand Government of Vietnam extend the deepest sympathy to their Laocounterparts and the families of the deceased officials.

“We believe that the Lao Party, State and people will soon overcomethis great loss to continue their national construction, protection anddevelopment,” said the message.-VNA