Philippine President and First Lady Begin Visit to Vietnam

(Dan Tri) - On the afternoon of January 29, the plane carrying Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife landed at Noi Bai airport ( Hanoi ), beginning a two-day state visit to Vietnam.

The visit to Vietnam of the President of the Philippines and his wife took place on January 29-30, at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong. Accompanying the President of the Philippines and his wife were Speaker of the House of Representatives Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, Minister of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Minister of Trade and Industry Alfredo E. Pascual, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo LB. Montealegr, and many senior leaders and advisors. Welcoming the delegation at the airport were Head of the Office of the President Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Lai Thai Binh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, and leaders of several departments and agencies under the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The President of the Philippines and his wife at Noi Bai airport on the afternoon of January 29 (Photo: VNA).

According to the schedule, on the morning of January 30, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife, along with a high-ranking delegation, will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, then attend a state-level welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace. During the visit, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to hold talks with President Vo Van Thuong, meet with key leaders of Vietnam, and participate in other important activities.

Head of the Office of the President Le Khanh Hai and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh welcomed the delegation at the airport (Photo: VNA).

Over the past time, the relationship between Vietnam and the Philippines has developed well in many fields. Political cooperation has been strengthened with many visits and high-level meetings and contacts. Economic cooperation between the two countries has developed positively. The Philippines is currently the 6th largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 16th largest in the world of Vietnam, continuing to be Vietnam's largest rice export market. Bilateral trade turnover has increased more than 3 times in the past 13 years. From 2.5 billion USD in 2010 to 7.8 billion in 2022 and remained the same in 2023, despite adverse fluctuations in the global market. In particular, Vietnam's trade surplus with the Philippines continued to increase to 2.5 billion USD. Cooperation in other important areas between the two countries such as national defense and security, education and training, labor, culture, and tourism continues to be focused. Vietnam and the Philippines also maintain close coordination at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and APEC.

Dantri.com.vn

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