Vietnamese leaders pay respect to late Shinzo Abe

"We deeply mourn and miss Shinzo Abe, a leader with a great international reputation and a dear friend to Vietnam's leaders and its people," Phuc wrote in a condolence book at the embassy, sharing his thoughts with the Japanese emperor, the Japanese people and Abe's family.

Phuc said that during Abe's time as prime minister, he had left "special, meaningful impressions when it came to the establishment and fortification of the deep Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership for peace in Asia."

Chinh sent his condolences to the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japanese government, Japanese people and Abe's family.

"The loss of Shinzo Abe is not only a huge loss for Japan, but for the entire international community, including Vietnam," he wrote.

He said under Abe’s leadership, relations between Vietnam and Japan "moved to a new stage and enjoyed good development with bold impression," expressing his desire for both countries to develop their friendly relations further "for peace, cooperation and development in both the region and the world, for the might and prosperity of each country."

General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent wreaths to pay respect to Abe.

Abe, 67, died last Friday after being shot while giving a speech in Japan's Nara Prefecture.

During his eight years a Japan's prime minister, Abe visited Vietnam four times, including one in January 2013 when he chose Vietnam as his first foreign destination after taking the position the second time.

Former Vietnamese ambassador in Japan for the 2015-2018 period Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the most important legacy that Abe left for Vietnam-Japan relations was trust, not only between leaderships, but also their people.