TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s government has expressed condolences following the death of Vietnam’s former leader Nguyen Phu Trong, who died at age 80 on Friday (July 19).

Former Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen passed away "due to old age and serious illness," according to a Vietnam government statement reported by the BBC. Nguyen became the party’s general secretary in 2011, and served as the country’s president.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing condolences following Nguyen's death, and extended sympathies to the former leader's family. The statement expressed admiration for “General Secretary Nguyen’s active leadership in developing the country’s economy and society, and its efforts to enhance regional prosperity and peace during his tenure.”

Taiwan will continue to work with the Vietnamese government and people to deepen cooperation and friendship, the statement read.

Condolences were also offered by the governments of the U.S. and China.

While Vietnam does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, the country is the fourth-largest foreign investor in Taiwan, according to the foreign ministry. A significant number of Vietnamese citizens also migrate to Taiwan for work.

The foreign ministry rejects Vietnam’s assertion that Taiwan is a territory of the People’s Republic of China, while emphasizing the importance of “mutually beneficial economic and trade exchanges” between the two sides.