Philippine president welcomed with 21-gun salute, guard of honor

By Vu Anh January 29, 2024 | 08:33 pm PT

President Vo Van Thuong (L) and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Jan. 30, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is on a state visit to Vietnam, received a 21-gun salute at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on Tuesday.

He then inspected a guard of honor at the Presidential Palace.

Following the ceremony he and President Vo Van Thuong are set to hold talks on bilateral cooperation and witness the signing of agreements.

Marcos arrived in Vietnam Monday with his wife, Louise Marcos, for a two-day visit, his first since taking office in 2022.

He is also expected to meet with other Vietnamese leaders and take part in various activities in Hanoi.

Vietnam and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in 1976 and upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2015.

The Philippines is Vietnam’s 16th largest trade partner and top rice importer.

Bilateral trade was worth US$7.1 billion in the first 11 months of last year.