BEIJING -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese president, over the passing away of former Vietnamese President Le Duc Anh.

In the message, Xi, on behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences over Le Duc Anh's decease and extended sincere sympathies to his family.

Comrade Le Duc Anh made great contribution to the cause of national development of Vietnam and made unremitting efforts for the advancement of China-Vietnam relations, Xi said, adding that with his decease, the Vietnamese people have lost an outstanding leader and the Chinese people have lost an old friend.

Xi said he believes that under Trong's strong leadership, the CPV and the Vietnamese government and people will turn grief into strength and continue to make new achievements in the cause of socialist construction.