SINGAPORE – Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong, who died on July 19 at age 80, was a close friend of Singapore and his leadership contributed significantly to Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Mr Trong’s leadership also contributed significantly to Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, he added.

In a Facebook post on July 20, PM Wong said he was saddened by the passing of Mr Trong, who was a former Vietnamese president, as well as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He said: “My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Vietnam.”

Mr Trong died after a 13-year reign as chief of the Vietnamese Communist Party. He had suffered from ill health, including having a stroke in April 2019.

Vietnam will hold a two-day state funeral next week for Mr Trong, with two days of national mourning set for July 25 and July 26.