HCM City (VNA) – The funeral for former Prime Minister PhanVan Khai who passed away in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17 started at 8am onMarch 20 at the city’s Thong Nhat Hall.

Leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and the VietnamFatherland Front and people from localities nationwide gathered at the ThongNhat Conventional Hall from early morning to pay their last respect to the formerPrime Minister.

The Party delegation was led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Writing in the book of condolences, the Party leader expressed his deepsorrow at the passing away of the former Government leader who was also dearlycalled Sau Khai.

He highlighted Khai’s sacrifices and devotion to the revolutionarycourse of the Party and nation, while conveying deep sympathy to the lateleader’s family.

Meanwhile, President Tran Dai Quang, who led the State delegation, vowedthat he will follow the example of former PM Khai to exert every effort fornational construction, safeguarding and development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who led the Government delegation,wrote in the book of condolences that comrade Khai was an excellent leader ofthe country. As head of the Vietnamese Government from 1997 to 2006, he led thecountry in an important period of reform and integration, stated the PM.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan led the NA delegation to theservice.

The ceremony also saw delegations from the Vietnam Fatherland FrontCentral Committee led by its President Tran Thanh Man, the Party Committee,People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front of Ho ChiMinh City led by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen ThanhPhong, along with delegations of ministries, sectors, organisations and localities.

A similar ceremony was also held in Hanoi to pay last homage to formerPM Phan Van Khai.

🦩[Photos: State funeral for former PM Phan Van Khai]

From early morning, hundreds of people queued at the InternationalConvention Centre at Le Hong Phong Street to offer incense for the late Governmentleader.

A delegation of Party and State incumbent and former leaders led by NguyenVan Binh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and headof the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, was the first to paytribute to comrade Phan Van Khai.

Delegations of the Government and National Assembly and ministries, sectors,orgnaisations paid their last tribute to the former PM.

Earlier on March17-19, thousands of people from localities nationwide visited and conveyedtheir condolences to the family of former PM Khai at his residence in Cu Chidistrict of Ho Chi Minh City.

PhanVan Khai was born on December 25, 1933 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

As one of the high-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase ofthe country's Renewal and nation-building cause, PM Khai was active anddetermined to build the institution under the spirit of renewal to utilise thecapacities of all economic sectors, especially the private one, together withopening door to the world and integrating internationally.

During his nearly two working terms, fundamental laws in the first phaseof the Renewal and door-opening process were built.

The Government chaired by PM Khai left its working-term marks by theissuance of the Business Law, the annulment of hundreds of licences, theinvolvement in many tough talks to negotiate Vietnam's admission to the WorldTrade Organization (WTO), and more.

The Party and State have presented PM Khai the Golden Star Order and the55-year Party Membership Badge (2014), in recognition of his dedications to thecountry's revolutionary cause.-VNA