Vietnam sends condolences over Lao military plane crash

Upon hearing the news that a number of senior leaders of the Party and Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic died on a business trip on May 17, 2014, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam sent condolences to the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The full text of the message is as follows:

“We are deeply saddened to hear that comrades Douangchay Phichit, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense; Thongbanh Sengaphone, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Public Security; Cheuang Sombounkhan, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Sukan Mahalad, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary - Mayor of Viengtiane, and a number of other officials have unfortunately met with an accident and suddenly passed away while on a business trip.

The crashed plane was an Antonov-74 (Source: KPL)

This is an extremely great loss for the Party, State, National Assembly and Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and an irreparable loss for the families of the comrades who were injured. The Vietnamese leaders and people have lost comrades and close friends who have always cared for and actively contributed to consolidating and developing the traditional friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam would like to send our deepest condolences to the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the families of comrades Douangchay Phichit, Thongbanh Sengaphone, Cheuang Sombounkhan, Sukan Mahalad, and the other officials who were injured.

We believe that the Lao Party, State and people will soon overcome this great loss and grief, and continue the work of building, protecting and developing the country.”./.

According to VNA