The President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, has passed away at the age of 61, according to Vietnamese state media.

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang succumbed to a serious illness and died Friday morning, Reuters reports, citing Vietnamese state TV.

Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang gestures during a meeting of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, November 19, 2016.

Tran Dai Quang had been in office since April 2, 2016; he was nominated by his predecessor Trương Tấn Sang and elected to the post by the National Assembly of Vietnam.

He had previously served as the country's Minister of Public Security and as Vice Head of the Committee on HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Vietnam state TV reported that the president had died of a “serious illness despite efforts by domestic and international doctors and professors," according to Reuters. He passed away at the 108th Central Military Hospital at 10:05 am local time (3:05 am GMT), Vietnam News Agency reported.

News Agecies