The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on March 20 held a ceremony to pay respect to former PM Phan Van Khai. (Source: VNA)

Addressing the ceremony, PM Ouyahia, on behalf of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Government and people of Algeria, offered his deep condolences to the Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam as well as former PM Khai’s family over his death. 

He stressed that the two countries have maintained a long-standing, fruitful friendship as well as mutual support in difficult times. 
Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru said PM Ouyahia’s presence at the ceremony reflects special sentiments, deep and close-knit friendship between the two countries. 

Earlier, Ambassador Tru and the embassy’s staff joined in a commemorative service for the former PM, in which the diplomat lauded Mr. Khai's contributions to Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, socialism and people’s happiness, as well as the country’s Doi Moi (Renewal) cause. 

The same day, many high-ranking delegations from Algeria and representative offices of foreign countries in Algeria came to pay their last respects to the former government leader. 

Also on March 20, the Embassy of Vietnam in Cambodia hosted a similar event to pay homage to the former government leader, who passed away at the age of 85.

Many delegations from Cambodia and foreign countries such as Laos, China, India and other ASEAN member nations also came to pay tribute to the former PM, including a delegation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) led by Sim Ca, permanent member of the Standing Board of the CPP Central Committee. 

Writing in the funeral book, Sim Ca stressed the former PM’s great contributions to Vietnam’s nation-building cause, and offered his deep condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Vietnamese people and the former PM's family. 

The same day, a similar ceremony was held by the Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore. 

Ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic corps of foreign countries in Singapore came to pay homage to former PM Khai. 

Among them was Russian Ambassador to Singapore Andrey Tatarinov who had met the late leader many times during 2011-2004 in his capacity as Russian Ambassador to Vietnam. 

The ambassador praised significant contributions of former PM Khai to the development of the friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, saying Russian people will always remember the former PM as a close friend of Russia. 

Singapore’s Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described former PM Khai as a respectable leader and a good friend of Singapore. 

The former PM’s contributions to enhancing cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam will always be remembered, he said. 

Diplomats of Laos, Chile, Japan, China and Thailand were present at the event. 

Former PM Khai was also commemorated in India, Germany and Hong Kong (China).