General Secretary To Lam welcomes General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping at the Presidential Palace

General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping review the honor guard at the Presidential Palace on the afternoon of April 14 - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

On the afternoon of April 14, roads near Ba Dinh Square, the Party Central Committee headquarters and the Presidential Palace such as Hung Vuong and Doc Lap were blocked to prepare for the state-level welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

Inside the Presidential Palace, the military band and the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army marched in groups to their designated positions.

A large number of Vietnamese, Chinese and international reporters stood at two high platforms on the left and right of the Presidential Palace grounds, waiting for the appearance of the Vietnamese and Chinese leaders.

At around 4 p.m., the motorcade carrying General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping entered the Presidential Palace. General Secretary To Lam welcomed the Chinese leader where the car stopped. The two leaders expressed their joy at meeting again in Hanoi.

Welcome music played as the two men walked down the red carpet toward the podium. Vietnamese children smiled and waved the flags of both countries as they passed.

General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping waved to children - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping then stepped onto the podium together.

The military band played the national anthems of the two countries in turn to the golden sound of 21 cannon salutes. Images of the cannon salutes fired from the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long were broadcast live to the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace via two large LED screens.

The national anthem ended, the leader of the Vietnam People's Army's honor guard stepped forward to the podium to report. General Secretary To Lam invited General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to inspect the honor guard. When the two leaders reached the end of the red carpet, the honor guard shouted in unison, "Wishing the General Secretary and President good health!"

The two leaders then introduced the officials attending the welcoming ceremony, then returned to the podium to witness the welcoming parade.

General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping take a souvenir photo at the Presidential Palace - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

At the end of the solemn welcoming ceremony, General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping walked together to the Party Central Committee headquarters for talks.

Crowds of people waving flags and flowers happily welcomed the two leaders. The two men happily waved back.

The motorcade escorting General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping moves to the Presidential Palace - Photo: NAM TRAN

Children wave Vietnamese and Chinese flags at the Presidential Palace during the welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping. The welcoming ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. this afternoon - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The honor guard moves into the welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The Military Band moves to the welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Outside the main gate of the Presidential Palace, along Hung Vuong Street and the intersection between Hung Vuong Street and Hoang Van Thu Street, many layers of people stood waiting with flags and flowers in their hands to welcome the leaders of the two countries.

At the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the ceremonial artillery team of the Vietnam People's Army also stood in line, waiting for the signal to fire 21 cannon salutes at the exact moment the national anthems of Vietnam and China were played at the Presidential Palace.

16 months ago, on December 12, 2023, a state-level welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping also took place solemnly at the Presidential Palace.

This state visit from April 14 to 15 marks the fourth time Mr. Xi Jinping has returned to Vietnam as head of the Chinese Party and State.

This is also the second time Mr. Xi Jinping has visited Vietnam during his term after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022.

Previously, right after arriving in Hanoi at noon on April 14, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping sent a message to the leaders, people and press of Vietnam.

In it, he sent his respectful and sincere greetings to the leaders and people of Vietnam, recalling the close ties between the two countries in the past.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping waves to Chinese people living and studying in Vietnam when landing at Noi Bai airport at noon on April 14 - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

He reiterated that during his state visit to Vietnam in 2023, the two sides announced the establishment of a China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future, which has strategic significance, bringing the relationship between the two Parties and two countries into a new stage of development.

This year is also the year the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Vietnam People-to-People Friendship. Therefore, according to him, "The China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future is facing new development opportunities."

The Chinese leader emphasized that at a new starting point, China is ready to accompany Vietnam, always remember the initial friendship, share the historical mission, and seize the opportunities of the times.

At the same time, promote bilateral cooperation to new heights, with a broader scope and greater depth, to bring more practical benefits to the people of the two countries, while actively contributing to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

"I hope that through this visit, I will have the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with Vietnamese leaders on strategic, comprehensive and long-term issues in the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern, thereby jointly outlining a new cooperation plan for the building of a China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future in the new era," General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping expressed.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-don-tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-trung-quoc-tap-can-binh-tai-phu-chu-tich-20250414143846204.htm#content-1