For our generation of diplomats, he is not only a leader but also a father, an uncle, an older brother, a teacher and a great friend who is very simple, close and intimate. At conferences and seminars, we really like and always look forward to hearing him speak, because the information and the way of posing problems are very new, the way of thinking is logical, very scientifically and tightly organized, the presentation is neat, concise, simple, humorous but very profound and suggestive.
He often said: "We must look at phenomena and events in development, that is, in a dynamic state, not static; we must grasp and understand their laws and find out what is new and what affects us." Just through a few "stories" - in his words, everything becomes clear, bright, easy to understand, easy to remember, and easier to do. When having to solve difficult and complicated problems, he always clearly identified and resolutely protected the interests of the nation and people, but always reminded: doing diplomacy must first of all be sincere, must have a warm heart but must keep a cool head. We need to calmly consider all aspects of the problem. While firmly maintaining a principled stance and protecting our interests, we need to take into account the common interests and interests of our partners to find a long-term solution that meets the concerns and interests of all parties. Perhaps that is one of the important factors in his art of negotiation, contributing to the success of the negotiation delegations he directly directed and led in the process of resolving border, territorial, sea and island issues and Vietnam's international integration process.
As a leader, he was very thorough and meticulous. When I was working at the Press Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The documents submitted by the Press Department were edited by him very delicately, deeply, and meticulously down to every comma, every word, every word, and many times he wrote them himself. He was strict but always respectful, listened, never spoke harshly to his subordinates, and never demanded that they serve him personally.
He is also an example of love and passion for work, of the spirit of continuous self-study, even at an old age. For him, reading and working is life. He especially values research, reads a lot, and although he has a very deep and comprehensive knowledge of history, economics, and law, he still constantly updates, not ignoring the latest books, the latest information that we do not know yet. Less than 3 months ago, he still sent me a reference to an article he had just written, analyzing the changes in the world situation. He is a treasure trove of knowledge and experience, always interested in sharing, guiding, and instructing the next generations. Although he is busy with work, he always makes time for the young. When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened training courses for young, promising officials, he enthusiastically became a lecturer, sharing his knowledge and experience, especially on research methods, negotiation skills, and these training courses were affectionately and proudly named by the students as "Vu Khoan Class".
He lived a very simple life, valued real values, was allergic to flattery, ostentation, and was especially frugal in spending state money. However, when it was necessary to spend on necessary things, he made decisions very quickly. In 2004, the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) was held in Vietnam for the first time. The conference had an important content of admitting new members and received great attention from the international press. The Press Department was assigned to develop a plan to organize the conference's press center. We were very concerned because the number of reporters registered to work at the conference was large, but the organizing committee planned to allocate only a very small area to build the press center, not enough area to set up facilities and equipment to serve the work of visual and audio reporters. He was the Deputy Prime Minister at that time, and personally came to inspect the preparations for the conference and asked me to report. After listening to my presentation, he said: “Our conditions are still difficult, we do not do anything unnecessary or wasteful, but we must do anything necessary.” And he immediately directed that we must allocate more space to establish a press center with all the necessary equipment for reporters to work. Thanks to that, we have an international press center for the conference, although still modest, but operating very effectively.
During his lifetime, he was also very interested in people's foreign affairs. When I transferred to work at the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, he said: "If you and the Union need anything, just tell me, I will help if I can." When we invited him to talk to the staff of the agency, although his health had not fully recovered after a serious illness, he was still very enthusiastic and dedicated, spending a lot of time sharing and inspiring us with his profound and touching memories of Uncle Ho, helping us understand more about Uncle Ho's style, morality and Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on people's foreign affairs. Unexpectedly, this was also the last time the staff of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations had the chance to welcome him and listen to him speak.
He has gone to the world of the good, but to us, those who were fortunate enough to know him and work with him, he will forever be a leader, a beloved and respected teacher; "Uncle Vu Khoan" - a man who, through his complete life, helped us understand more about what it means to be "a decent person".
NGUYEN PHUONG NGA
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
SAD NEWS
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the family deeply mourn and inform:
Comrade Vu Khoan, born on October 7, 1937; hometown: Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi; permanent residence: No. 9 Le Thanh Tong, Phan Chu Trinh ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi; joined the work in 1955; joined the Party on December 19, 1961; Member of the Party Central Committee, 7th, 8th, 9th tenures; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, 9th tenure, Member of the Party Committee of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, Head of the State Steering Committee on Human Rights, Head of the State Steering Committee on the East Sea and Islands, Head of the State Steering Committee on Tourism, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on foreign affairs; Secretary of the Party Committee, Minister of Trade; Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; National Assembly delegate, 11th tenure.
After a period of serious illness, despite the devoted care and treatment of the Party, the State, professors, doctors and family, due to old age and poor health, he passed away at 7:05 a.m. on June 21, 2023 (ie May 4, Quy Mao year) at the 108 Central Military Hospital, at the age of 87.
During more than 68 years of revolutionary activities, he made many contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He was awarded the First Class Independence Medal by the Party and the State, the 60-year Party membership badge, and many other noble Vietnamese and international medals and orders.
To express condolences and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of comrade Vu Khoan, the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front decided to hold the funeral of comrade Vu Khoan with the State funeral ceremony.
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF VIETNAM FATHERLAND FRONT
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SUMMARY OF COMRADE VU KHOAN'S BIOGRAPHY
Former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Prime Minister
Comrade Vu Khoan, born on October 7, 1937; hometown: Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi; permanent residence: No. 9 Le Thanh Tong, Phan Chu Trinh ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi; joined the Party in 1955; joined the Party on December 19, 1961.
WORK HISTORY
Before 1955: He worked at Paper Factory 420, Military Medical Department, then joined the Central Youth Army; studied culture in Guilin, Nanning, China; studied Russian in Moscow.
1955 to 1956: He worked at the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union.
1956 to 1958: He worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1958 to 1961: He worked at the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union and was awarded the title of Attaché.
1961 to 1964: He studied at the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO).
1964 to 1968: He continued to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1968 to 1971: He was an Attaché and then Third Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union.
1971 to 1977: He was a researcher at the Soviet Union Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1977 to 1982: He was First Secretary, Counselor, Minister Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union; Party Committee member in the Soviet Union, Deputy Secretary, Party Committee Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union.
1982 to 1990: He worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held the positions of Deputy Director, Director, Assistant Minister; Party Committee member of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Party Committee of the Foreign Affairs bloc.
1990 to 2000: He was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At the 7th National Congress (June 1991) and 8th National Congress (June 1996) of the Party, he was elected to the Party Central Committee. In 1998, he was Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and was awarded the title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary by the President.
February 2000 to July 2002: He was Minister, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Trade, Vice Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation.
At the 9th National Congress of the Party (April 2001), he continued to be elected to the Party Central Committee and was elected by the Party Central Committee as Secretary of the Party Central Committee, in charge of foreign affairs (including foreign economic affairs); Member of the Party Committee of the Government (May 2001). In May 2002, he was a delegate to the 11th National Assembly.
August 2002 to June 2006: He was Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Party Committee of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister; concurrently held the following positions: Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, Head of the State Steering Committee on Human Rights, Head of the State Steering Committee on the East Sea and Islands, Head of the State Steering Committee on Tourism.
July 2006 to December 2007: He was the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on foreign affairs.
January 2008: He was retired by the Party and State, enjoying benefits and policies according to regulations.
He was a member of the Party Central Committee of the 7th, 8th and 9th terms; Secretary of the Party Central Committee of the 9th term; and a delegate of the 11th National Assembly.
Due to his many contributions and outstanding achievements to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, he was awarded the First Class Independence Medal by the Party and the State; the 60-year Party membership badge and many other noble Vietnamese and international medals and orders.
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMRADE VU KHOAN'S FUNERAL
The Central Party Secretariat has decided to establish a State Funeral Committee consisting of 26 comrades, headed by comrade Le Minh Khai, Central Party Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.
Comrade Vu Khoan's coffin lies at the National Funeral Home (No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi).
The funeral will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 (May 10, Quy Mao year).
Memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. the same day at Mai Dich Cemetery, Hanoi.
FUNERAL COMMITTEE
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