Hanoi (VNA) – Senior officials of manycountries have paid homage to Vietnam’s former President Le Duc Anh at thetribute-paying ceremony held by Vietnamese embassies.

President of the Cambodian National AssemblySamdech Heng Samrin led a parliamentary delegation to pay tribute to the formerleader of Vietnam at the service organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in PhnomPenh on May 3.

In the condolence book, he wrote that Gen. LeDuc Anh was a close friend of Cambodia who greatly helped to liberate theCambodian people from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and to recover and developthe country.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofthe Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol also came to pay tribute to former President LeDuc Anh and handed over King Norodom Sihamoni’s condolence letter.

Other Cambodian officials, including SenatePresident Samdech Say Chhum and Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of theCouncil for Agricultural and Rural Development Yim Chhay Ly, also showed theirrespect for Le Duc Anh at the ceremony in Phnom Penh.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh said General Le Duc Anhdirectly made enormous contributions to the two countries’ friendship. 

From 1981 to 1986, he served as Deputy DefenceMinister and Commander of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers in Cambodia. He wasDefence Minister of Vietnam at the time the country’s volunteer soldiersfulfilled their mission in Cambodia in 1989, the diplomat noted.

Also on May 3, the Vietnamese Embassy in India held a respect-paying ceremony.

Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East) at theIndian Ministry of External Affairs, wrote in the condolence book that Gen. LeDuc Anh was an excellent leader with considerable contributions to Vietnam’sdevelopment. The Indian people will always keep in mind his role in enhancingthe India-Vietnam friendship.

Indian officials and representatives ofdiplomatic corps in the country also came to pay homage to the former leader.

A similar ceremony took place at the VietnameseEmbassy in Thailand the same day.

In his note, First Vice-President of Thailand’sNational Legislative Assembly Surachai Liengboonlertchai expressed hisdeepest condolences to the people of Vietnam on the passing of Le Duc Anh.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Chairmanof the Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group Sakchai Tanaboonchai,along with many diplomats and Vietnamese people in the country, also attendedthe event.

Officials, diplomats and Vietnamese people inRussia, Singapore and New Zealand also paid homage to the former leader at theceremonies held by the Vietnamese embassies in the countries.

The overseas ceremonies are scheduled to lastthrough May 4.

General Le Duc Anh, who served as President ofVietnam from September 1992 to December 1997, passed away on April 22 at theage of 99.

Vietnam has declared two days of nationalmourning for him on May 3 and 4.-VNA