UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon mourned on Wednesday the death of former Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, who died earlier in the day.
In a statement issued by his press office, Ban said he "has learned with profound sadness" that Vo Van Kiet passed away.
"As a major force behind the economic reforms in Vietnam that started in the late 1980s, Mr Vo Van Kiet paved the way for the country's transition from poverty to a decade of impressive economic growth," Ban said.
"During his time as the Prime Minister from 1991 to 1997, he also played a pivotal role in improving Vietnam's diplomatic relations with other countries," he noted.
The secretary-general expressed "his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr Vo Van Kiet, and to the people and the government of Vietnam."
Source:Xinhua
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