General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse welcome General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm and his spouse at the welcome ceremony in Beijing, China. — VNA/VNS Photo:Trí Dũng

BEIJING — The official welcome of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) and President Tô Lâm and his spouse, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, was solemnly held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday with the highest honours reserved for heads of state.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse presided over the ceremony.

The Vietnamese leader is on a State visit to China from August 18-20.

Attending the ceremony on the Chinese side were: Cai Qi, member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat, Director of the General Office of the CPC; Wang Yi, Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Xiaohong, State Councilor, Minister of Public Security; Liu Jianchao, Head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Zheng Shanjie, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission; Jin Zhuanglong, Minister of Industry and Information Technology; Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, along with many leaders of various central departments, national committees, the National People's Congress, and Chinese Ambassador to Việt Nam Xiong Bo.

The motorcade carrying General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation entered the Great Hall of the People.

General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his wife warmly welcomed the Vietnamese leader and delegation. Both sides introduced the officials present at the welcome ceremony.

General Secretary and President Xi Jinping invited General Secretary and President Tô Lâm to ascend to the honorary podium, while the military band played the national anthems of Việt Nam and China.

A 21-gun salute was fired in their honour.

The two countries' top leaders then inspected the honour guard of the People's Liberation Army of China.

The two General Secretaries, Presidents, and their spouses took a group photo in front of the national and party flags of the two countries.

Immediately following the welcome ceremony, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping led the high-level Chinese delegation, and General Secretary and President Tô Lâm led the high-level Vietnamese delegation in formal talks. — VNS

Vietnamese and Chinese top leaders review the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony in Beijing on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping meets members of the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation at the welcome ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping stand on the podium of honour, listening to the national anthems of the two nations. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng