General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President of Việt Nam Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly arrive in Manila, beginning their state visit to the Philippines. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

MANILA — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President of Việt Nam Tô Lâm, his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Manila on Sunday afternoon, beginning a state visit to the Philippines until June 1.

The visit is made at the invitation of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.

Philippine government officials welcome General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President of Việt Nam Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly at Villamor Airbase military airport, Manila. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Those welcoming the Vietnamese leader, his spouse, and his entourage at Villamor Airbase included Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel Jr., Philippine Ambassador to Việt Nam Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Lại Thái Bình and his wife, along with numerous officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and members of the Vietnamese community in the archipelagic nation.

Embassy staff and members of the Vietnamese community in the Philippines welcome General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Both located in Southeast Asia, Việt Nam and the Philippines boast a long-standing and strong friendship while sharing many strategic interests in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, the bilateral relationship has been continuously enhanced and developed across various fields, becoming increasingly substantive. In 2015, the two countries set up a Strategic Partnership, a significant landmark that created a stepping stone for promoting all-round cooperation in the new phase. In recent years, Việt Nam – Philippines ties have continued to maintain positive momentum, notably with tightened political trust, expanded economic cooperation, and enhanced coordination in regional and international issues.

The state visit by General Secretary and President Lâm is of particularly special significance. It marks the first visit to the Philippines by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee, and takes place as the two countries are looking forward to the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the Philippines is holding the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

The trip demonstrates Việt Nam's high regard for its friendship and cooperation with the Philippines, as well as with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region. It also provides an opportunity for high-ranking leaders of both countries to have in-depth discussions on major directions to further develop the Việt Nam – Philippines Strategic Partnership in a stronger, more substantive, and more effective manner in the new phase. — VNA/VNS