Top Vietnamese leader begins state visit to Ireland
VGP - General Secretary and President To Lam and his entourage arrived at Dublin airport on September 1 (local time), embarking on a three-day state visit to Ireland at the invitation of Irish President Michael D. Higgins.
General Secretary, President To Lam (R) shakes hands with Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine Pippa Hackett, Dublin, October 2, 2024 - Photo: VNA
The Vietnamese high ranking delegation was welcomed by Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine Pippa Hackett, Chief of Protocol at the Department of Foreign Affairs Eamonn McKee, Mayor of Fingal Dublin Brian McDonagh, Irish Ambassador to Viet Nam Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Do Minh Hung and several staff members from the Vietnamese Embassy.
The Party leader was accompanied by Secretary of Ha Noi Municipal Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Chief of Party Central Committee Office Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Chairman of the Central Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission Mai Van Chinh, Chairman of the President Office Le Khanh Hai, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh.
The entourage also includes Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh, Deputy Minister of National Defense Pham Hoai Nam.
This is Viet Nam's first state visit to Ireland since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1996.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that leaders of the two countries are expected to discuss measures to spur cooperation in areas including high-quality investment, science-technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy transition, education-training, especially tertiary education.
Ireland remains Viet Nam's sixth largest trading partner among the EU members, with the two-way trade turnover surpassing US$3.5 billion in 2023 and US$2.73 billion in the first seven months of 2024.
Ireland has poured US$44.32 million in 41 projects in Viet Nam, ranking 61st out of 141 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam.
The two countries have shared a warm relationship, underpinned by our development cooperation program, noted Irrish Ambassador to Viet Nam Deirdre Ní Fhallúin./.
