President Phuc to attend former Japanese PM Abe's funeral

Phuc’s attendance reflects the love and acknowledgment of Vietnam’s people and leadership for Abe’s contributions to bilateral relations, foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a Thursday press meet. It also reaffirms the value of the deep strategic partnership between both countries, Hang said.

"Within the framework of the state funeral, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the main events and 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 September 27 in Tokyo. The Japanese government has said that it will be attended by dozens of current and former world leaders.

Abe was assassinated 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 in 2006 when he attended the APEC Summit in Hanoi.

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