Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. review the guards of honour at the welcome ceremony in Manila on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photos Thống Nhất

MANILA — Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony in Manila on Monday morning for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1.

At the ceremony, the two leaders stepped onto the honour dais as military bands played the national anthems of Việt Nam and the Philippines. A 21-gun salute was fired in honour of General Secretary and President Lâm’s state visit, the highest protocol accorded to a head of state.

The two leaders then reviewed the guard of honour and introduced members of their respective high-level delegations attending the ceremony

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. welcomes top Vietnamese leader Tô Lâm to the Philippines.

Immediately afterwards, President Marcos Jr. and his spouse, together with General Secretary and President Lâm and his spouse, proceeded to the Presidential Palace’s guest book room.

The Vietnamese and Philippine leaders alongside their spouses at the welcome ceremony.

The top Vietnamese leader wrote down his admiration for the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage and aspirations for prosperity and development.

He noted that the common understandings reached by the two countries would elevate the bilateral friendship and neighbourly relations to a new height, bringing tangible benefits to their people and contributing positively to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. introduces top Vietnamese Tô Lâm to the Philippine delegation.

Following the ceremony, the two leader led their respective high-level delegations to hold official talks. They are also set to witness the signing of cooperation documents and meet with the press.

Việt Nam and the Philippines share a longstanding traditional friendship and many strategic interests in maintaining regional peace, stability, cooperation and development. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, the bilateral ties have continued to grow across a wide range of fields, becoming increasingly substantive and effective.

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm introduces the Philippine president to the Vietnamese delegation.

The trip marks the Vietnamese leader’s first visit to the Philippines as Party General Secretary and State President. It takes place as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.

The visit also provides an opportunity for the two countries’ senior leaders to discuss major directions for advancing the Việt Nam–Philippines Strategic Partnership in a stronger, more substantive and effective manner in the years ahead. — VNA/VNS