Welcome ceremony held for Chinese Premier in Hanoi

This is Premier Li's first official visit to Vietnam in his new position, and also the first by a Chinese Premier over the past 11 years.

The trip takes place in the context that both countries are gearing towards the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950-2025) as well as following important visits by their senior leaders.

The visit is expected to help foster the relations between the two Parties and countries in an intensive, substantive, and comprehensive fashion, meeting the aspirations and common interests of both nations' people, for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The two PMs inspected the guard of honour, and then visited an exhibition featuring Vietnam and its people, as well as the flourishing ties between the two countries, which is jointly organised by the Government Office and the Vietnam News Agency, before holding talks.

Earlier, right after his arrival in Hanoi on October 12, the Chinese Preimer met with Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. During his three-day visit, Li is scheduled to meet with Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, and join with PM Chinh in attendance at the Vietnam - China Business Forum and some other activities.

The visit is a continuation of the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two Parties and two countries, and is of great significance for further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, promoting the building of a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future with strategic significance on the basis of the direction of the "six major goals" agreed by senior leaders.

China has continuously been Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam's second largest export market. Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and China's 5th largest trading partner in the world. Last year's bilateral trade hit US$171.9 billion in and US$148.6 billion during the nine-month of this year.

Within the framework of the three-day trip, Premier Li Qiang and a high-ranking delegation of China  laid a wreath in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late leader's mausoleum in Hanoi the same day.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son joined the delegation.

Li laid the wreath in memory of President Ho Chi Minh, a hero of national liberation and a great man of culture of Vietnam.

This is Li's first official visit to Vietnam in his new position, and also the first by a Chinese Premier over the past 11 years. It shows the importance the Chinese Party and State, as well as the Premier himself attach to the bilateral ties.

(Source: VOV)