Reda El Taify was Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam from 2010 to 2014 (Photo: VOV)

In an interview with a Voice of Vietnam reporter in Egypt on Saturday, former Ambassador El Taify expressed his deep sorrow upon hearing of the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Expressing his heartfelt admiration and respect for the leader whom he described as great and outstanding, El Taify affirmed that Trong played a pivotal role in modern Vietnamese history, particularly in economic development and international integration.

He said: "In terms of domestic affairs, in recent years, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, along with other Vietnamese leaders, has promoted the prosperity of the country in all fields, especially in socio-economic development. I witnessed these achievements firsthand during my tenure in Vietnam."

"Under his leadership, Vietnam experienced a strong transformation and significant economic breakthroughs, expanding its markets worldwide, including Egypt and Arab countries. Vietnam has risen to become an industrial nation with a robust economy. In terms of foreign relations, Vietnam has become a key player in international diplomacy, not only with Asian countries through frameworks such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the Asia-Pacific cooperation mechanisms but also with other countries worldwide," said El Taify.