General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: An outstanding politician, a great theorist

DNHN - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing is a great loss for our Party and the people of Vietnam, leaving infinite regret among the people of the entire country and internationally.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is an outstanding politician, a great theorist, the creator of the "Vietnamese bamboo" diplomatic policy, contributing to the solid protection of the Fatherland. Leaders of China, Russia, and the United States all expressed their respect and sorrow over the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing is a great loss for our Party and the people of Vietnam, leaving infinite regret among the people of the entire country. Leaders of countries such as China, Russia, the United States... all expressed their respect and sorrow for a leader with many outstanding contributions in the field of diplomacy. Especially, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the initiator of the "Vietnamese bamboo" diplomatic policy, greatly contributing to protecting the national interests over the past time, even amid complex geopolitical conflicts in the world.

President Xi Jinping: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a steadfast Marxist, a great leader of the Party and the people of Vietnam."

After General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was not only an outstanding politician but also a great, profound, and sober theorist.

"General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a steadfast Marxist, a great leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the people of Vietnam. He was elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the XI, XII, and XIII Congresses of the Party and was greatly supported and loved by the people of Vietnam" – Ambassador Xiong Bo expressed.

"In more than ten years, the General Secretary has led the Party, the Government, and the people of Vietnam to make important contributions to the development of Vietnam's socialist construction. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was not only an outstanding politician but also a great theorist, with deep and sober understanding that Vietnam must persist in the Party's leadership, firmly follow the socialist path, leaving a deep impression on me," Ambassador Xiong Bo noted.

According to Xinhua News Agency - China, at about 4 PM on July 20 (Beijing time, equivalent to 3 PM on the same day in Vietnam), General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to pay respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Accompanying him were Chinese leaders including Cai Qi - Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Yi - Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior leaders such as Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.

President Xi Jinping entered the mourning hall, where a portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was displayed. In front of the portrait were wreaths from President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders and organizations.

President Xi Jinping approached and paused in silent tribute, bowing three times before the portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, then signed the condolence book - according to Xinhua.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (center) and officials bowed before the portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing on July 20
General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (center) and officials bowed before the portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing on July 20. (Ảnh: VNA)

Speaking with Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai, President Xi Jinping affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a steadfast Marxist and a great leader of the Party and the people of Vietnam.

"For more than 10 years, I and Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong had close interactions, fostering a deep comradely relationship. A milestone event was in 2023, when we together declared the establishment of a strategic community of shared future.

The passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong has caused us to lose a comrade who promoted China-Vietnam relations and accompanied us in the cause of socialism, making us deeply regretful.

We will forever remember the outstanding contributions of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong to the relationship between the two Parties, the two countries, and the international socialist movement," President Xi Jinping expressed.

"The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China firmly supports the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in uniting and leading the people of Vietnam steadily on their development path... China is ready to work with Vietnam to promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the Vietnam-China community of shared future with strategic significance to deepen and become more substantive" - President Xi Jinping stated.

"The United States will forever be grateful for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's leadership in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity."

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received U.S. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper on the occasion of starting his term of office in Vietnam on April 25, 2022
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received U.S. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper on the occasion of starting his term of office in Vietnam on April 25, 2022. (Ảnh: VNA)

Immediately after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away at 1:38 PM on July 19, 2024, in the evening of July 19, the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam issued a statement by Ambassador Marc E. Knapper on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

"We deeply mourn the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Mrs. Ngô Thị Mận, his family, and the people of Vietnam in this difficult time" - excerpt from Ambassador Marc E. Knapper's statement.

"With the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, we mourn the loss of a visionary leader who bridged Vietnam and the United States, as well as the entire international community for decades" - the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam emphasized.

The statement added that the United States appreciates General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong for elevating the Vietnam-U.S. relationship to new heights.

"The United States will forever be grateful for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's leadership in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity" - the statement read.

On July 20, U.S. President Joe Biden sent his deepest condolences to the people of Vietnam and the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong over this great loss.

President Biden's condolence message read: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a pioneer in building deep relationships between the peoples of Vietnam and the United States. Thanks to the General Secretary's leadership, our two countries have enjoyed the friendship and partnership we have today. His historic visit to the White House in 2015 was a significant milestone in our bilateral relations. Thanks to the General Secretary's vision, during my state visit to Hanoi in 2023, Vietnam and the United States became 'Comprehensive Strategic Partners,' the highest level of partnership in Vietnam's foreign policy. Thanks to the friendship between our two countries, the people of Vietnam and the United States, as well as people across the Indo-Pacific region, now live in a more secure environment with greater opportunities. That is thanks to the efforts of the General Secretary.

The United States and I will always remember and appreciate his commitment to healing and building a future of peace, stability, and prosperity for the region and the world. We honor the legacy of the General Secretary and, along with the people of Vietnam, express our sorrow at his passing."

President of the Russian Federation Putin: “General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a true friend of Russia.”

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to Vietnam on June 20, 2024
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to Vietnam on June 20, 2024. (Ảnh: VNA)

On July 19, many major Russian newspapers reported that President Vladimir Putin sent a condolence letter upon hearing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing.

With headlines like: “Russian President Putin will always keep fond memories of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong”, “General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a true friend of Russia,” the official website of Russian President Putin, TASS, Ria Novosti, and newspapers: News, Russian Newspaper... all published the full text of President Vladimir Putin's condolence letter.

The letter affirmed that in Russia, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is always remembered as a true friend who made significant contributions to establishing and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and Vietnam.

President Putin also shared that he had met General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong many times in person and was always impressed by the General Secretary as a wonderful person. President Putin will always cherish the fond memories of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

President Putin wrote: "I send my sincere condolences and share the great loss with the family and relatives of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as well as the entire people of Vietnam."

The creator of the "Vietnamese bamboo" diplomatic school

One of the most outstanding achievements, under the leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is the formation of the “Vietnamese Bamboo Diplomacy” approach. This distinctive diplomatic approach is a distillation and embodiment of the foreign policy that our Party has implemented over many decades, contributing significantly to the achievements our country has attained and is currently achieving.

Researcher Nguyen Hong Hai, a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Australia, said in an interview with a reporter from Vietnam Voice Radio - VOV that this is a “very distinctive and unique diplomatic school of the Ho Chi Minh Era, embodying the ‘Vietnamese Bamboo’ characteristics.”

Researcher Nguyen Hong Hai analyzes the following factors that contribute to the success of the “Vietnamese Bamboo Diplomacy” approach. These include the tradition and culture of the Vietnamese people, characterized by benevolence, tolerance, friendliness, flexibility, adaptability, knowing oneself and others; the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese nation; the diplomatic thought and style of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam; the actual development and international position of Vietnam since the Communist Party of Vietnam initiated the Renovation (Doi Moi) process, with significant contributions from foreign affairs; the tradition of solidarity among the Vietnamese people, which creates the strength of the nation in resisting foreign aggression, building, and developing the country; the tradition of succession, “old bamboo and new shoots,” where the previous generation trains and guides the next to ensure continuity and consistency; the stability of domestic politics, similar to the roots of the bamboo, “with a strong root, the stem is sturdy.”

“The ‘Vietnamese Bamboo Diplomacy’ has effectively safeguarded national interests because we have consistently implemented the ‘independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and development-oriented foreign policy; diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; being a reliable friend, partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community’ with an active and proactive spirit. This diplomatic approach has proven effective, protecting and bringing the best benefits to the nation in recent times.

For example, regarding the South China Sea issue, we emphasize the agreements and rules reached between relevant parties, especially adherence to the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); opposing any unilateral acts that infringe upon our sovereignty and rights, which violate UNCLOS 1982, while welcoming all parties that contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we emphasize adherence to the UN Charter and call on parties to return to negotiations. Vietnamese leaders have clearly stated that Vietnam “does not choose sides but chooses justice and righteousness.” This shows that Vietnam’s message in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is clear.

Vinh Hy

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