(VOVworld) - Vietnamese senior leaders have sent their condolences to Venezuelan leaders over the death of President Hugo Chavez Frias on Tuesday.

The message was cabled on Wednesday by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to the First President of the United Socialist Party and President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Diosdado Cabello, and Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro. The leaders extended deepest sympathy to the Venezuelan Party, State, Government, people and the family of President Hugo Chavez Frias.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai led a Vietnamese delegation to Venezuela to attend the President’s official funeral slated for Friday.

For Vietnam, the death of President Hugo Chavez is a great loss. Vietnam and Venezuela stood side by side not only in struggles for national independence in the past but also in current national construction and renovation. Vietnam has always received strong support from Venezuela. Chavez had a special interest in developing a multi-faceted partnership with Vietnam. The Bolivarian revolutionary movement in Venezuela and other Latin American countries promoted by Chavez has had theoretical significance for socialism in Vietnam.

World leaders and UN Chief Ban Ki-moon offered condolences to Venezuela on the death of their President. The US said the death of Chavez presents a challenge for Venezuela and promised to support Venezuelan people and develop a constructive relationship with Caracas. In Argentina, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner suspended all government activities when the death of President Chavez was announced. UN Chief Ban Ki-moon expressed condolences to Venezuela and praised Chavez’s contribution to the development of Venezuela. The people and top leaders of Latin American countries including Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Brazil have expressed deep grief over the death of President Chavez. The Cuban government issued a statement, extending profound sympathy to the Venezuelan people and praising Chavez as a great leader and a symbol of extraordinary fighting spirit.

In a letter of condolence sent to Vice President Nicolas Maduro, Russian President Vladimir Putin said President Chavez was a great leader of the Bolivarian revolution and Venezuela and a sincere, close friend of the Russian people.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his condolences to Venezuelans and said he looked forward to "working with his successor and other leaders in the region to build a hemisphere that is more prosperous, secure and democratic.

The news of Chavez's death was announced officially by Vice President Nicolas Maduro on national television broadcast live from a military hospital in Caracas. Maduro appealed to the people to be united and trust in the government. He said the military has been deployed nationwide to maintain the Constitution and peace. Venezuela’s constitution specifies that the Speaker of the National Assembly, currently Diosdado Cabello, will assume the interim presidency until an election is held. Venezuela announced 7 days of mourning for Chavez.

President Hugo Chavez, one of the most prominent leaders in Latin America, became widely known in 1992 after leading a failed coup against Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez and being put into prison for 2 years. After being released from jail, he decided to enter the the presidential election, won in 1998, and became Venezuela’s youngest president at the age of 44. He then amended the Constitution, increased the presidential term to 6 years, reduced the power of the parliament, and easily won another election in 2000. In 2002, a coup led by Chavez's right-wing opponents briefly forced the president out of office. He returned to power three days later. In 2006, Chavez was re-elected to another six-year term. In 2009, Chavez won a referendum on constitutional changes and eliminated presidential term limits, enabling him to stay in office. During his tenure, Chavez strong support from Venezuelan people and leftist movements. His government instituted many social programs including universal education and healthcare. Chavez was a talented, charismatic public speaker who hosted the Talk show Alo President (Hello Mr. President).