23-7-2024 (HANOI) In a poignant diplomatic gesture, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a multi-nation tour, with Vietnam as his first stop from July 24 to August 3. The visit holds particular significance as Blinken will attend the funeral of late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, paying respects to the esteemed Vietnamese leader and underscoring the depth of the bilateral relationship.
The US State Department announced Blinken’s itinerary, stating, “In Vietnam, Secretary Blinken will attend the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and send condolences to the people of Vietnam. He will further emphasize the strength of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with his government counterparts in Hanoi.”
The solemn occasion will see Blinken participate in the National Funeral protocol, where General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s coffin will be laid to rest at the National Funeral Home, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi. The funeral proceedings will commence on July 25, with the memorial service scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on July 26, followed by the burial ceremony at 3:00 p.m. the same day at Mai Dich Cemetery, Hanoi.
Blinken’s attendance at the funeral carries symbolic weight, as he had previously met with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during his visit to Vietnam in April 2023, underscoring the longstanding ties between the two nations.
In a heartfelt condolence message, US President Joe Biden paid tribute to the late General Secretary, hailing him as a pioneer in building a deep relationship between the Vietnamese and American people. Biden affirmed that thanks to Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership, Vietnam and the United States have achieved the friendship and partnership they share today.
“The General Secretary’s historic 2015 visit to the White House was an important milestone in our bilateral relationship,” Biden said. “Thanks to the vision of the General Secretary, during my 2023 state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam and the United States became Comprehensive Strategic Partners, the highest level of partnership in Vietnam’s foreign policy.”
The President further acknowledged the legacy of Nguyen Phu Trong, stating, “Because of the friendship between our two countries, the people of Vietnam and the United States, and people across the Indo-Pacific region, today live in an environment of greater security and opportunity. That is thanks to the General Secretary.”
