Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and his spouse host a welcome ceremony for Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse in Hà Nội on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Phú Trọng and his spouse chaired an official welcome ceremony in Hà Nội on Tuesday for General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his spouse.

The welcome ceremony was held with 21-cannon salute, the highest level for a head of state.

The Chinese leader and his spouse are making a State visit to Việt Nam from December 12-13 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, and President of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam Võ Văn Thưởng and his spouse.

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (right) welcomes Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse in Hà Nội on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

The welcoming ceremony is held in the Presidential Palace with a 21-gun salute, the highest level for a head of state. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

Party General Secretary Trọng invited the Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to ascend to the honorary podium, and 21 cannons were fired in salute. The two leaders then inspected the guards of honour of the Việt Nam People’s Army.

The Việt Nam visit by the Party General Secretary and President of China and his spouse and a high-ranking delegation from the CPC and Chinese State is the first by the highest leader of the Chinese Party and State to Việt Nam after the 20th National Congress of the CPC. It comes one year after the historic visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in October 2022.

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Chinese General Secretary and President Xi at the welcome ceremony for the latter in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

The visit takes place as Việt Nam and China are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. It will mark a new historical milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Following the welcome ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng held talks with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. — VNS

The welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp