Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan - The man who lived a remarkable life
On June 21, the sudden passing away of former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan (1937-2023) shocked and saddened many people. In sharing with the World and Vietnam Report, Ambassador Nguyen Chien Thang, who had worked with the former Deputy Prime Minister and has close relationship with his family, recalled fond memories and expressed his deepest sorrow, stressing that Vu Khoan was a far-sighted leader, a talented diplomat and a great journalist. The following is some extracts from the Ambassador’s writing on the late former Deputy Prime Minister.
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| Late former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan (1937-2023). (Photo: WVR) |
Great journalist
On the early morning of June 21, just on Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, I was deeply saddened with the news that former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan had died at 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, at the age of 86.
It's a coincidence that former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan passed away right on Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, as Vu Khoan had been a great journalist. Former Deputy Prime Minister had written a lot and on many subjects. He had spent a lot of time with journalists, especially young ones, in various topics, from foreign affairs, economics, to professional journalism affairs. Especially since his retirement, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan wrote a lot of articles on Vietnam’s economics and international integration, with astute assessments and comments. Former Deputy Prime Minister has been awarded a national journalism award for his outstanding articles.
Reporters who ever had interaction with him, could always feel his openness and sincerity. He rarely refused taking requests to write articles or give interviews to journalists. Receiving reporters, he always exuded an air of simplicity, closeness and sincerity.
It can be said that late former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan was a journalist who had made an important contribution to the spreading out of the Party and State's guidelines and policies and shared very valuable knowledge for young people.
Talented diplomat
Thanks to his dedicated guidance, many colleagues in my generation got their mature in professional development. He is a talented diplomat with clear thinking, foresight, persuasive reasoning, quick and effective action. He was one among the first people to “plow up” in the field of economic diplomacy, from setting direction for integration work to deeply participating in negotiations, especially the watershed moment of bilateral trade agreements, as BTA with the US (signed in 2001), accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2006.
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| Late former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan (front row, right), madam Ho The Lan (front row, center), Ambassador Nguyen Chien Thang (second row, second from right) in a group photo. (Photo: WVR) |
Many of my colleagues still joke that he had worked "like a buffalo", always "plowing in the field of work". When his subordinates submitted the reports, he made a lot of correction and returned back very quickly. People involved thought his corrections reasonable and found them "indisputable".
Vu Khoan was always dedicated to giving guidance and supporting subordinates.
The silkworm still spins silk
Behind the success of Vu Khoan, there is always the “shadow” of his wife, madam Ho The Lan, who is former Director General of the Press and Information Department, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (from 1987-1996). They are like two great friends, supporting each other.
"Impermanence is the law of life. Everyone must depart eventually. The only difference is that some leave behind love and longing for life". And that's what Mr. Vu Khoan is. In the last days before leaving “temporary realm”, he still worked on the laptop. He was like a silkworm, that diligently released its silk thread, despite age and illness, leaving behind an example of an optimistic spirit and hard - working person, full of responsibility and an example of intact integrity.
My deepest condolences to madam Ho The Lan. I would like to send a message to her that he had lived his life completely, a worthwhile, remarkable life.
| Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang entered the Diplomatic Service in 1971, was former Deputy Director General of the Press and Information Department, Chief of the Office of the Foreign Ministry, Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria, France, Cambodia, respectively. He is currently a member of the Vietnam Writers Association, pen name Thang Sac. |
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 | Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan passes away |
