Indian President, Prime Minister accord ceremonial welcome to top Vietnamese leader

The welcome ceremony was held with 21-cannon salute, the highest level for a head of state.

To Lam is on a three-day State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The top Vietnamese leader is accompanied by Chairman of the Central Organization Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang, along with other ministers and senior officials.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the visit, the Deputy Foreign Minister described the trip as a major diplomatic event of special significance as it is the first visit by the top Vietnamese Party and State leader and takes place on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Viet Nam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The visit demonstrates Viet Nam's high regard for its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India and the broader South Asian region. It also offers a meaningful opportunity for both countries to review a decade of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and consolidate their multifaceted cooperation.

The primary objective is to create a "qualitative leap" in the relationship, ensuring it is commensurate with the potential and rising positions of both nations on the global stage. This alignment is particularly focused on long-term national aspirations: Viet Nam's goal to become a developed country by 2045 and India's vision for 2047./.