Vietnamese delegation mourns late King Father Sihanouk

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung consoles King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath (Photo: VNA)

PHNOM PENH (Vietnam News) — A high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), and the Vietnamese State, National Assembly and Government, led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday to pay tribute to Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Dung and his entourage laid a wreath at the Cambodian Royal Palace to mourn the King Father.

After the ceremony, Dung met Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and King Norodom Sihamoni to extend his condolences.

He also conveyed the deep sympathy of CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, and former Vietnamese leaders as well as the whole Vietnamese people.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese people would never forget King Father Sihanouk's valuable contributions to the struggle for national independence and reunification of Viet Nam.

The CPV and the Vietnamese State and people will do their utmost to further strengthen the solidarity between the two countries nourished by King Father Sihanouk as well as generations of leaders of both nations, he stressed

Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and King Norodom Sihamoni expressed their thanks to Vietnamese leaders and people for their sympathy.They also pledged to help bolster the fine relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

The same day, PM Dung met with his Cambodian counterpart, Samdech Hun Sen. The two sides exchanged views on some issues regarding regional cooperation.

Later on the same day, PM Dung and his entourage left Phnom Penh to return to Viet Nam.

President Truong Tan Sang also laid a wreath at the Cambodian Embassy in Ha Noi yesterday to express his condolences over the death of Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Sang wrote in the memorials book of the sorrow he felt upon hearing of the former King's death, describing him as a close friend of Viet Nam. He added that, along with the rest of the country, he highly valued the support and affection that the late King had given to Viet Nam.

Over the three days that have passed since October 17, more than 30 delegations from central and local agencies, the business community and many overseas embassies and organisations based in Ha Noi paid tribute to former King Sihanouk at the Cambodian Embassy.

Ha Noi flew a flag at half mast for the Cambodian King Father yesterday.