Vietnam Communist Party chief Trong dies at 80, state media says

Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong looks on as he is received by Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks with on September 6, 2018 in Sochi, Russia.

Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong has died, state media said on Friday, after holding the country’s most powerful position for more than a decade. He was 80.

State media, citing information from Trong’s medical team, said he died early afternoon on Friday “after a period of illness”.

Vietnam’s President To Lam took over Trong’s duties on Thursday when the party announced Trong needed to focus on medical treatment.

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