Vietnamese President Tô Lâm and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reviewed the guards of honours at the welcome ceremony in Hà Nội for the latter. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese President Tô Lâm on Thursday noon presided over the welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin, held solemnly at the Presidential Palace in Hà Nội with the highest protocol reserved for heads of state,

The Russian leader is on a State visit to Việt Nam on June 19-29 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

Large crowds of Hanoian citizens and children waved the two countries' flags to welcome President Putin and the high-level delegation from the Russia.

This is the fifth visit to Việt Nam by President Putin in his capacity as head of state.

The State visit takes place as the two countries commemorate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles of Friendship Relations between Việt Nam and the Russian Federation (1994-2024) and towards the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

The escort convoy brought President Putin to the Presidential Palace, where President Tô Lâm warmly welcomed him and the high-level Russian delegation. Amidst the welcome music, President Tô Lâm invited President Vladimir Putin to step onto the honour platform. Military bands played the national anthems of both countries.

A 21-gun salute was conducted to welcome the Russian leader to Việt Nam.

The overview of the welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

Following the national anthems, President Tô Lâm and President Putin reviewed the Honour Guards of the Việt Nam People's Army.

Subsequently, the two leaders introduced the high-level delegations of both countries participating in the welcoming ceremony.

President Putin's visit takes place in the context of the rapidly developing, comprehensive, and amicable Việt Nam-Russia relationship. It serves as a model of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation, for the sake of peace, cooperation, and development in the region and worldwide.

For the past 30 years, generations of leaders and people of both countries have made continuous efforts to strengthen their deep friendship, consolidate, and promote bilateral cooperation across various fields, for the benefit of their people, and contribute to regional and global peace, cooperation, and development.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has dynamically developed over the years. The growth rate of bilateral trade turnover between Việt Nam and Russia has accelerated, especially after the Việt Nam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement came into effect in October 2016.

Việt Nam is currently Russia's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and Russia is one of Việt Nam's top five trading partners in Europe.

Bilateral trade between Việt Nam and Russia reached US$3.63 billion in 2023 and $1.96 billion in the first five months of 2024.

Vietnamese President Tô Lâm and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

Both countries also have mutual investment projects, particularly of Russian strengths, such as energy, science and technology, and education and training. Additionally, Việt Nam and Russia have various forms of cooperation in defence and security.

This state visit by President Putin is of great importance, seeks to further deepen the Việt Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all areas, especially as the two countries strive to realise the Joint Declaration on the Vision for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by 2030.

Following the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders led the high-level delegations of both countries in discussions to evaluate the results of their cooperation and propose future cooperation directions. — VNS

21-gun salute welcoming the arrival of President Vladimir Putin. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng