Prime Minister Hun Sen has written to Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong to express his grief over the plane crash Saturday that killed Lao Defense Minister Douangchay Phichit and at least 14 others, including a raft of other high-ranking government officials.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the crashed Military Aircraft of the Lao PDR that killed 44 people on board [sic], including many members of the Lao government on 17 May 2014,” reads the letter, which is dated Saturday and was posted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and CPP websites.
“On this very sad moment…allow me to convey to your Excellency and through you to the Government and people of the Lao PDR as well as the bereaved families, my deepest sympathy and profound condolences for this most unfortunate and tragic accident,” it says.
Mr. Hun Sen on Sunday also departed for a regional conference in Beijing, where he was set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the afternoon.
He will today visit an aircraft research institution in Shanghai, according to Srey Thamrong, his personal assistant.
