President Vo Van Thuong presided over the ceremony to welcome German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a state visit, with a 21-gun salute.
At the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace this afternoon, President Vo Van Thuong and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier saluted the flag amid the resounding sound of 21 cannon shots fired at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This is the most solemn welcoming ceremony in Vietnam's foreign relations.
The two leaders reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army, then held talks to discuss bilateral cooperation and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.
President Vo Van Thuong and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace on the afternoon of January 23. Photo: Vu Anh
President Steinmeier and his wife will pay a state visit to Vietnam on January 23-24, and are expected to participate in a number of activities in Hanoi before visiting and surveying German projects in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring areas.
Economic and trade cooperation is one of the key contents of the visit. The business delegation accompanying President Steinmeier is expected to participate in a discussion with German businesses and organizations doing business in Vietnam.
Mr. Steinmeier, 68 years old, visited Vietnam as Foreign Minister in 2008 and Deputy Prime Minister in 2016. He has made many contributions to the relationship between the two countries and is interested in the development and integration of the Vietnamese community in Germany.
He has held the position of President of Germany since March 2017. This is a position that represents Germany as head of state, with the authority to appoint members of the government and judges of the Federal Court. President Steinmeier's visit comes more than a year after Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid an official visit to Vietnam.
Vietnam and Germany established diplomatic relations on September 23, 1975. The two countries established a Strategic Partnership in 2011. Germany is Vietnam's largest trading partner in Europe, accounting for nearly 20% of Vietnam's exports to the European Union (EU), and is also an important transit gateway for Vietnamese goods to other markets in Europe. Two-way trade turnover in 2023 is expected to reach more than 11 billion USD.
There are currently more than 350 German enterprises operating in Vietnam. As of May 2023, Germany has 444 valid projects with a total registered investment capital of over 2.36 billion USD, ranking fourth in the EU and 18th out of 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnamese enterprises have 11 valid investment projects in Germany with a total investment capital and adjusted capital of over 30.95 million USD.
Germany is one of the countries that regularly and extensively provides ODA to Vietnam, with more than 2 billion USD for ODA projects from 1990 to present.
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