German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wraps up Vietnam visit
WVR/VNA - On January 24 evening, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Spouse left Ho Chi Minh City , concluding their state visit to Vietnam on January 23-24 at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse.
Latest
 |
President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Spouse in Hanoi. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Viet) |
During their stay in Vietnam, the German President and his spouse laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Bac Son street, Hanoi.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attended the official welcome ceremony, held talks, witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents, met with the press, and joined a banquet with his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong. He also met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.
 |
| President Vo Van Thuong and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hold talks. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Viet) |
At the talks and meetings, the Vietnamese leaders warmly welcomed the German President's state visit to Vietnam, expressing a belief that the visit would contribute to strengthening the friendship and political trust, creating motivation to comprehensively promote the Vietnam - Germany Strategic Partnership, for the benefit of the two countries' people as well as for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Thanking the Vietnamese leaders for their warm welcome, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his impression of Vietnam's dynamic socio-economic development. He emphasised the cohesion and mutual trust between the two countries have been continuously promoted over the past nearly 50 years. He affirmed a desire to enhance cooperation in various fields with Vietnam, particularly in trade and investment, energy transition, labour and vocational training, development cooperation, as well as close coordination in contribution to regional and global peace and cooperation.
The Vietnamese leaders stressed that in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, Vietnam always attaches importance to and prioritises developing relations with Germany.
 |
| President Vo Van Thuong and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at their meeting with the press. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Viet) |
On this occasion, they thanked the State, Government, and people of Germany for supporting Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the support demonstrates the friendship and solidarity between the two countries, helping Vietnam control the pandemic, reopen its doors for socio-economic recovery and development.
 |
| Banquet hosted in honour of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier: President Vo Van Thuong (2nd from right), German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (3rd from right) and their Spouses at the banquet. (Photo: VNA) |
In an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding, both sides exchanged views on major directions and measures to further deepen the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership, as well as shared regional and international issues of mutual concern.
While in Vietnam, the German President visited Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi, and met with Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders and visited the German House in the city. He also attended an exchange programme with students and lecturers of the Vietnamese-German University in the southern province of Binh Duong.
 |
| While in Vietnam, the German President and Spouse visited Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Viet) |
His Spouse Elke Büdenbender and President Vo Van Thuong’s Spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam watched a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi.
 |
| Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai welcomes German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Photo: VNA) |
The state visit by the German President took place in the context that the bilateral relations are growing intensively and making practical progress in various fields.
 |
| German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits Vietnamese-German University. (Photo: VNA) |
More importantly, this was President Steinmeier’s first overseas trip in 2024, and the first high-level official visit between the two countries in the year. This was the second visit to Vietnam by a German President since Germany’s reunification, following the first by President Horst Kohler in May 2007.
(Source: WVR/VNA)
