UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon mourned on Wednesday the death of former Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, who died earlier in the day.

    In a statement issued by his press office, Ban said he "has learned with profound sadness" that Vo Van Kiet passed away.

    "As a major force behind the economic reforms in Vietnam that started in the late 1980s, Mr Vo Van Kiet paved the way for the country's transition from poverty to a decade of impressive economic growth," Ban said.

    "During his time as the Prime Minister from 1991 to 1997, he also played a pivotal role in improving Vietnam's diplomatic relations with other countries," he noted.

    The secretary-general expressed "his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr Vo Van Kiet, and to the people and the government of Vietnam."