Vietnamese leaders’ major overseas visits in 2023 in the spotlight
Senior Vietnamese leaders made a score of working visits abroad in 2023 to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields. Let’s look at some of these major trips.
President Vo Van Thuong leads a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to Laos on April 10-11, 2023. This is his first foreign visit after he took on his new position, demonstrating Vietnam’s consistent policy of always giving the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos. During this visit, Thuong affirms that Vietnam will actively support Laos in successfully undertake international responsibilities in the coming time, including the role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2024. In the photo, General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith hosts the welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese President in Vientiane.
President Vo Van Thuong and his wife paid working visits to Austria, Italy and the Vatican from July 23-28 to further rev up cooperative relations between Vietnam with these partners, as well as between ASEAN and the European Union. In the photo, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife preside a welcoming ceremony for President Vo Van Thuong and his wife in Vienna.
During his working trip to Italy, the two sides issued a joint statement on strengthening the Vietnam - Italy strategic partnership. In the photo, President Vo Van Thuong and Italian President Sergio Mattarella co-host a joint press conference, producing a brief on the results of their talks in Rome.
President Vo Van Thuong and his wife lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week 2023 and undertake bilateral activities in the United States from November 14-17 at the invitation of President of the United States of America Joe Biden. In the photo, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife board the aircraft, leaving Hanoi for the United States.
On the sidelines of the APEC Summit, President Vo Van Thuong has a series of bilateral meetings with Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden, Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol, Japanese Prime MinisterFumio Kishida, Brunei Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Peruvian President Dia Boluarte, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In the photo, President Vo Van Thuong and other leaders of all APEC economies pose for a family group photo.
President Vo Van Thuong and his wife make an official visit to Japan from November 26 to 30 at the invitation of the Japanese State. The two sides issued a joint statement on upgrading Vietnam - Japan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. They also signed a number of cooperation documents between ministries and branches of the two countries. In the photo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Fumio and his wife host a welcoming ceremony for President Vo Van Thuong and his wife in Tokyo.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pays an official visit to Laos on January 11 - 12. This is his first visit to Laos in his capacity as Prime Minister of Vietnam, and he is also the first foreign leader to visit Laos after Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandon is elected. The visit aims to consolidate and strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and trust between the two Parties and States of Vietnam and Laos. In the photo, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone shake hands after their talks.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife also make official visits to Singapore and Brunei from February 8 - 11. During the Singapore visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witness the exchange of four cooperation documents between the governments, agencies and businesses of the two countries. In the photo, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warmly welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Singapore.
During his Brunei visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah witness the signing and exchange of an action program to implement the Vietnam – Brunei comprehensive partnership for 2023-2027 and notes on the exchange of an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic passports and official passport holders between Vietnam and Brunei. In the photo, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with the Sultan of Brunei.
In June 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pays a working visit to China where he also attends the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF). During this visit, the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and China witness the signing and announcement of three cooperation documents between ministries, agencies and localities of the two countries in the fields of immigration management, market surveillance, environment, the building of smart border gates, and marine environmental management in the Gulf of Tonkin. In the photo, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Premier Li Qiang shake hands before entering the meeting room.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pay an official visit to Brazil from September 23 - 26. On this occasion, the two sides issued a joint statement and witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of diplomacy, defense, education, agriculture, among others. In the photos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pose for a photo ahead of their talks.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife pay an official visit to Turkey on November 29-30 at the invitation of the Turkish government. The two sides witness the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture and forestry, training of diplomatic students, and aviation transportation. In the photo, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Zilmaz shake hands before the talks.
From November 30 to December 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh makes a working visit to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he attends the World Climate Action Summit within the framework of COP28. He also co-chairs a ceremony to mobilise finance for Vietnam’s climate change commitment with the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank. The PM witnesses the signing and exchange of cooperation documents between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam and partners and between Vietnamese businesses and banks with partners.
Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit to Cuba from April 18-23 at the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of the Peoples Power and head of the State Council of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández. The visit aims to promote the traditional friendship and special cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as politics-diplomacy, defense-security; economy-trade-investment; agriculture, and health. In the photo, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, on behalf of the Party and State of Vietnam, awards the Ho Chi Minh Order to Cuban National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernández.
At the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Argentina Cecilia Moreau, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam leads a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly on an official visit to Argentina from April 23-27. During this visit, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement between the legislative bodies of Vietnam and Argentina. In the photo, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Argentina Cecilia Moreau shake hands before the talks.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking Vietnamese National Assembly delegation also pay an official visit to Uruguay on April 27-28 at the invitation of Senate President Beatriz Argimon Cedeira. On this occasion, the two sides witness the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Senate and House of Representatives of Uruguay.
Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit to Indonesia where he also attends the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44) from August 4-7. During the visit, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies. In the photo, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani pen the cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies.
Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation make an official visit to Iran from August 8-10 to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various areas such as politics-diplomacy, economy, culture, education, science-technology, and local cooperation. On this occasion, the two sides sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two legislative bodies. In the photo, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf sign the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two legislative bodies.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking Vietnamese National Assembly delegation pay an official visit to Bangladesh on September 21-22. Thorough the visit, Vietnam wishes to further strengthen traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Bangladesh across all fields. On this occasion, the two sides sign the first Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the two legislative bodies and witness the signing of a cooperation document between their parliament offices.
A high-ranking Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit to Bulgaria from September 23-27. On this occasion, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Rosen Zhelyazkov sign a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies.
Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit to Thailand from December 7 – 10 as part of activities to mark 10 years of the Vietnam - Thailand Strategic Partnership (2013-2023). The visit aims to create momentum for the friendship and strategic partnership, including parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, to develop more extensively and substantially. In the photo, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Chairman of the National Assembly cum Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives Wan Muhamad Noor Matha shake hands ahead of their talks in Bangkok.