Hanoi (VNA) – A State-levelfuneral was held for former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan at the NationalFuneral Hall in Hanoi on June 27.

Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent wreaths in tribute to thedeceased.

A delegation of the Party Central Committee,led by Truong Thi Mai – Politburo member, Permanent member of the Party CentralCommittee’s Secretariat and Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee’s OrganisationCommission, came to pay the last respects to Khoan and offer condolences to thebereaved family.

The delegation was joined by formerParty General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former Presidents Truong Tan Sang andNguyen Xuan Phuc, former PM Nguyen Tan Dung, and former Chairpersons of theNational Assembly (NA) Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

The NA delegation led by NA ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue, the State President delegation led by President Vo Van Thuong,the Government delegation led by Deputy PM Le Minh Khai, and the VietnamFatherland Front Central Committee delegation led by its Vice President HoangCong Thuy paid homage to Vu Khoan.

Ministries, committees, and agencies atcentral and local levels also came to show their respect for the former DeputyPM and extended sympathies to the bereaved family.

The respect paying ceremony will takeplace until 1:30pm on June 27, followed by the committal ceremony at 1:30pm andthen the burial ceremony at the Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi at 3pm the same day.

Vu Khoan passedaway on June 21 after a period of illness.

He was born on October 7, 1937 in Phu Xuyendistrict, Hanoi. On December 19, 1961, he became a member of the CommunistParty of Vietnam.

He was a member of the Party Central Committee inthe 7th, 8th, and 9th tenures, Secretary of the Party Central Committee in the9th tenure, deputy of the National Assembly in the 11th tenure, and DeputyPrime Minister from August 2002 to June 2006.

During his political career, he also held variouspositions, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990 - 2000) andMinister of Trade (2000 - 2002).

Vu Khoan was honoured with many noble titles bythe VietnameseParty, State and Government, including the first-class Independence Order andthe 60-year Party Membership Badge./.