Xaysomphone Phomvihane, president of Laos’ National Assembly and a member of the Politburo of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, died on 8 August at the age of 70, according to an announcement by the Party Central Committee.
Xaysomphone died at 11:18 on 8 August from vasculitis, according to the announcement cited by the Lao News Agency. He was described by the party as a senior leader with extensive experience in government and local administration who had devoted his career to the country’s development and the well-being of the Lao people.
The Lao leadership described his death as a major loss to the Party, the state and the country’s multi-ethnic population. Xaysomphone was the son of former Lao leader Kaysone Phomvihane, one of the country’s most prominent revolutionary leaders.
The Party Central Committee, National Assembly, government and Lao Front for National Development have declared a five-day national mourning period from 9 to 13 August.
His official funeral will be held on 13 August at That Luang Esplanade in Vientiane, according to the announcement.