Vietnam held a solemn ceremony to welcome the General Secretary, President of Laos and his wife.
On the morning of September 10, the welcoming ceremony for Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife Naly Sisoulith was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace, chaired by General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife Ngo Phuong Ly.
Attending the welcoming ceremony were: Politburo member, Standing member of the Secretariat Luong Cuong; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Office Nguyen Duy Ngoc; Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; and leaders of a number of ministries, branches and Hanoi City.
Also attending the welcoming ceremony were Ambassadors and representatives of ASEAN embassies in Vietnam.
When the motorcade carrying the Lao General Secretary, President, his wife and delegation entered the Presidential Palace, amidst the welcoming music, General Secretary, President To Lam and his wife Ngo Phuong Ly warmly welcomed the Lao General Secretary, President and his wife.
Two students presented fresh bouquets of flowers to the Lao General Secretary and President and his wife. General Secretary and President To Lam invited General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to walk on the red carpet and onto the podium.
At exactly 9:40 a.m., when the national anthems of Laos and Vietnam were played, 21 cannon shots were fired from Thang Long Imperial Citadel to welcome General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife Naly Sisoulith on a state visit to Vietnam.
The cannon salute is the highest welcome ceremony for the State visit of the General Secretary and President of Laos to Vietnam.
After that, the two leaders reviewed the Vietnam People's Army Honor Guard and introduced the high-ranking delegations of the two countries attending the welcoming ceremony.
At the end of the official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders returned to the podium and witnessed the welcoming parade of the Vietnam People's Army Honor Guard.
Next, General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and high-ranking delegations of the two countries walked from the Presidential Palace to the Party Central Committee headquarters to hold talks.
Along Hung Vuong Street, Vietnamese and Lao flags were decorated; Hanoi people held national flags and shouted "Long live Vietnam-Laos!" and "Vietnam-Laos samaki!" to welcome the two leaders.
 |  |
 |  |
During the 4-day visit (September 10-13), the Lao General Secretary and President and his wife will have many important activities such as: meetings with Vietnamese leaders and former leaders, former Vietnamese military experts who have helped Laos, and Lao students studying in Vietnam.
General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife will also visit a number of localities, economic establishments, historical and cultural relics of Vietnam.
The visit of the Lao General Secretary, President and his wife took place in the context of the two Parties, two States and peoples celebrating the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the 79th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.