"The sad departure of former President Nguyen Phu Trong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam marks the end of a remarkable political era,"
as I laid wreaths and signed the book of condolences at the Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
In Hanoi today, I paid my respects to General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, mourning with thousands of others impacted by his passing. The United States has the utmost gratitude for his 13-year leadership of Vietnam and his commitment to shaping our U.S.-Vietnam friendship.