Hanoi (VNA) – Leaders of various countries haveextended their condolences to the Party, State, Government and people ofVietnam over the passing of former President General Le Duc Anh.

Le Duc Anh served as President of Vietnam from September 1992 to December 1997.He passed away on April 22, 2019 at the age of 99.

Indian President Ram Nath Covind sent a letter of condolencesto Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, stating that formerPresident Le Duc Anh is an excellent leader of Vietnam and a good friend ofIndia.

The passing of the former leader is a great loss to theGovernment and people of Vietnam, he said.

In his letter sent to Party General Secretary and PresidentNguyen Phu Trong, Choe Ryong Hae, President of the Presidium of the DPRK’s Supreme People’s Assemblyshowed his deep sympathy over the death of former President Le Duc Anh, and spokehighly of the deceased’s important contributions to the national constructionand development of Vietnam.

Presidentof the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE VicePresident, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and DeputySupreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent their condolences to Party GeneralSecretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

PartyGeneral Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong also received a message ofcondolences from Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent his condolences to Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc. He showed his respect to the late President and spoke highlyof his immense contributions to Vietnam’s nation-building.

Chairmanof the Presidium of the Communist Party of Japan Central Committee Kazuo Shiihas sent a message of condolences to the Central Committee of the CommunistParty of Vietnam.

JapaneseForeign Minister Taro Kono and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarifextended their condolences to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh over the loss.

OnMay 3, many foreign high-ranking delegations, including those from Cambodia,Laos, Cuba and Japan, along with ambassadors and representatives frominternational organisations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City paid their lastrespect to former President General Le Duc Anh at the National Funeral Hall inHanoi and Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City.

A memorial service for former President General Le Duc Anhwas held at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi at 10:45 am on May 3, and aburial service for him took place at 5pm the same day at Ho Chi Minh Cemetery.

Vietnamhas declared two days of national mourning for him on May 3 and 4.-VNA