President Phuc to attend ex-PM Abe’s funeral

Phuc’s attendance shows the love and acknowledgement of Vietnam’s people and leadership for Abe’s contributions to boost Vietnam and Japan’s relations, reaffirms the value of the two countries’ strategic partnership, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said at a Thursday press meet.

“Within the framework of the state funeral, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will meet with former Prime Minister Abe’s loved ones, Japanese leaders and friends, as well as leaders from certain countries,” she said.

The state funeral will be held on September 27. The Japanese government said dozens of world leaders, both current and former ones, would come to the funeral.

Abe was assassinated on July 8 while giving a speech in Nara City. The suspect, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, shot him twice in the back with a homemade gun. Abe died at the hospital.

As Japan’s prime minister, Abe visited Vietnam four times, the first one in 2006 when he attended the APEC Summit in Hanoi.

In January 2013, Vietnam was his first foreign destination after his re-election at the end of 2012.