(VOVWORLD) - A memorial service took place in Hanoi on Friday as part of a State funeral for former President General Le Duc Anh, who was also a former Politburo member and a former National Assembly deputy.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc burns incense to pay tribute to former President General Le Duc Anh. (Photo: VOV) |
Present at the event were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, incumbant and former senior leaders, and foreign guests, including Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen and President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane.
Prime Minister Phuc delivered a funeral oration reviewing General Le Duc Anh’s life and revolutionary career. He said Mr. Le Duc Anh was an outstanding and revered leader of the Party, State, Army, and people and a faithful communist who devoted his life to the revolutionary cause, socialism, national liberation and reunification, and the people’s happiness.
His military career encompassed many battlefields from the north to the south as well as international missions, Mr. Phuc said, adding that Mr. Le Duc Anh was one of the generals who commanded the defense of Vietnam’s southwestern border and helped save the Cambodian people from genocide.
After Vietnam was reunified in 1975, General Le Duc Anh held several important positions, said Prime Minister Phuc.
“In each position, General Le Duc Anh exerted the greatest effort to reconstruct the nation, initiate renewal, break sanctions and economic blockage imposed by other countries, and strengthen national security and defense. As a State President with a strategic vision, he and other Party and State leaders implemented a comprehensive renewal policy that helped Vietnam gain major and historic achievements,” said Mr. Phuc.
 (Photo: VOV) |
Prime Minister Phuc said the revolutionary life of former President Le Duc Anh was a bright example for all Vietnamese people to respect and follow.
“We vow to stay united and do our utmost to advance the revolutionary course set by the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and revolutionary predecessors like General Le Duc Anh. We’ll be consistent with Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought and push renewal toward a prosperous people, a strong country, and a democratic and civilized society,” Mr. Phuc said.
More than 1,000 people representing agencies, social and religious organizations, and the armed forces paid tribute to General Le Duc Anh in Hanoi, HCMC, and Hue City on Friday.
Many foreign leaders and other friends have extended condolences on the death of Mr. Le Duc Anh, including the Presidents of Mongolia and Nicaragua, and Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The same day, the Vietnamese embassy in Japan held a memorial service for Mr. Le Duc Anh.
The former President was buried at 5 p.m. the same day at the Ho Chi Minh City Cemetery.