Party General Secretary To Lam begins visits to Indonesia, ASEAN Secretariat
This marks the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Indonesia in nearly eight years, since August 2017, and also the first by a Vietnamese Party chief to the ASEAN Secretariat.
The welcome ceremony for Party General Secretary To Lam (centre) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on March 9 (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on March 9 afternoon, commencing a state visit to Indonesia and an official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat based in the country until March 11.
The trip is made at the invitations of Indonesian President and President of the Great Indonesia Movement Party Prabowo Subianto and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
The Vietnamese delegation was welcomed by Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi, and other Indonesian officials. Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong – Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, and diplomatic staff were also present at the welcoming ceremony.
Indonesia honoured the delegation with a ceremonial seven-gun salute, showing the host attaches importance to this visit.
🌸 This marks the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Indonesia in nearly eight years, since August 2017, and also the first by a Vietnamese Party chief to the ASEAN Secretariat.
Party General Secretary To Lam arrives in Jakarta on March 9 afternoon, beginning his state visit to Indonesia and official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat. (Photo: VNA)
The timing of the visit is particularly significant as the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, with Indonesia being the first Southeast Asian country to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Over the past years, particularly since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2013, Vietnam – Indonesia cooperation has developed in a more comprehensive and intensive fashion. The exchange of high-ranking delegations and contacts have been carried out regularly through both bilateral and multilateral forums.
🌳 Additionally, the trip coincides with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN, a historic milestone for the country's regional and international integration process. Vietnam's contributions have been closely tied to ASEAN's meaningful development, helping strengthen a united, self-reliant, and open ASEAN Community./.
The trip underscores the importance the Vietnamese Party and State attach to relations with neighbouring countries in the region, including two key partners —Indonesia and Singapore, while highlighting Vietnam's proactive, responsible, and innovative spirit, with practical contributions toward realising ASEAN’s shared aspirations for the future.
With their close and multifaceted relationship, Vietnam and Indonesia are well-positioned to exert a positive influence on Southeast Asia, contributing to regional stability amid global uncertainties, according to Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi.
The state visit to Indonesia by Party chief To Lam comes at a time when the Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership is experiencing robust, comprehensive, and stable growth across various fields, including politics, diplomacy, security-defence, economy, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
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New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
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Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
The ministry has instructed Vietnamese representative agencies in Israel, Iran, as well as those in neighbouring countries, to closely monitor the situation and request local authorities to ensure absolute safety for Vietnamese citizens living, studying, and working in high-risk areas.
Senior Vietnamese leaders on June 19 sent letters of congratulations to New Zealand leaders on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam – New Zealand diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 – 2025).
The Party chief attributed the achievements in the first half to the continuous, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, and the close and effective coordination of relevant ministries, sectors and localities.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering gratitude for Cuba’s invaluable support during its struggle for independence and nation-building efforts, and pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cuba as it navigates current challenges.
Vietnam is a country with which Russia shares a special relationship. In the 1950s and 60s, particularly during Vietnam’s struggle for independence, the two countries forged a deep bond. While much has changed over time, the friendship and cooperation between our nations have endured, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
