Venezuela Extends Condolences to Vietnam Over Death of Former President Tran Duc Luong
Former President Tran Duc Luong. X/ @ElUniversal
May 22, 2025 Hour: 12:16 pm
During his presidency, he focused on economic development and international integration.
On Thursday, Venezuela expressed condolences to the people of Vietnam over the death of former President Tran Duc Luong, who passed away on May 20 at the age of 88.
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“On behalf of the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro extends his most sincere words of condolence to the brotherly people and government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the passing of former President Tran Duc Luong, one of the most important leaders of the courageous Vietnamese nation, who, always adhering to socialist principles, contributed to his country’s development and well-being,” the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
“Venezuela honors the significant contributions of former President Tran Duc Luong in strengthening cooperation ties between Vietnam and Venezuela, highlighting his friendship and joint efforts with Commander Hugo Chavez to forge a strategic bond that today serves as a model of cooperation among developing nations and has contributed to the well-being of both peoples,” the statement continued.
“In light of this unfortunate news, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela once again reaffirms its deep brotherhood with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its commitment to continue strengthening the ties of friendship between the Vietnamese and Venezuelan peoples,” it added.
Tran Duc Luong served as the sixth President of Vietnam from 1997 to 2006. Born in the Quang Ngai Province, he moved to Hanoi after completing high school in 1954. He studied geology and initially worked as a cartographer. In 1959, he joined the Communist Party, marking the beginning of a political career that would span several decades.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Tran Duc Luong rose through the ranks of the Communist Party, eventually becoming Deputy Prime Minister in 1987. He was elected to the Politburo in June 1996 and became President of Vietnam on 24 September 1997.
During his presidency, he focused on economic development and international integration, including efforts that led to Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He was re-elected in 2002 and served until his resignation on June 27, 2006.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: FM – The World and Vietnam Report