Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed sadness at the passing away of Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong. In his message, Mr Modi said India stands in solidarity with the people and leadership of Vietnam in this hour of grief.

The general secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, who was considered as the country’s top leader died yesterday. He was 80 year old. In a statement, the party said, Trong died due to old age and serious illness. Nguyen Phu Trong held Vietnam’s most powerful position for 13 years during which he oversaw fast economic growth, a years-long anti-graft crackdown and a pragmatic foreign policy. The announcement came a day after the party said Nguyen Phu Trong would hand the reins of power to the country’s president and former public security minister To Lam.