Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife came to the car park to welcome General Secretary and President To Lam, many Irish children holding the national flags of both countries and waving. The Director of the Irish Protocol Department respectfully invited General Secretary and President To Lam to the position of honor. After that, the Military Band played the Vietnamese and Irish national anthems. The leader of the Guard of Honor welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam on his state visit to Ireland and invited the General Secretary and President to review the guard of honor. Irish President Michael D. Higgins and General Secretary and President To Lam introduced officials from both sides at the welcoming ceremony.
Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, General Secretary and President To Lam had a private meeting with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. At the end of the private meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish President Michael D. Higgins and the high-ranking delegations of the two countries held official talks. After the official talks, General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish President Michael D. Higgins planted a commemorative tree in the garden of the Presidential Palace.
Earlier, at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam signed and wrote in the guest book: “I am delighted to visit Ireland - a beautiful "pearl island" rich in cultural traditions and very grateful for the warm and respectful welcome that the President and the Irish people have given me and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. Despite the geographical distance, with a shared history of the long struggle for independence and resilient rise, Vietnam and Ireland have built a strong relationship over the past nearly three decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
With the good results of cooperation, political trust and great potential of the two countries, I believe that the Vietnam - Ireland relationship will develop more strongly and effectively. On this occasion, I would like to wish Ireland continued prosperity and development. I wish the Vietnam - Ireland friendship and cooperation to be further consolidated and expanded, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions and in the world."
On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers at the National Monument, located on Parnell Square in the heart of the Irish capital Dublin. This is the place where memorial events are held to commemorate those who sacrificed for the independence of Ireland, a quiet space for both the people and visitors to Dublin.
On April 5, 1996, diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level between Vietnam and Ireland were established. After 28 years of officially establishing diplomatic relations, the cooperative and friendly relationship between Vietnam and Ireland has achieved remarkable and specific achievements, in line with the common interests of the Governments and peoples of the two countries.
Economic-trade and educational-training cooperation is currently a bright spot in the bilateral relationship and there is still much potential for both sides to continue promoting in the coming years, thereby expanding cooperation to other potential areas.
Ireland is currently Vietnam's 6th largest trading partner in the EU market, with total two-way trade turnover reaching 3.5 billion USD in 2023; 2.73 billion USD in the first 7 months of 2024. In terms of investment, Ireland currently has 41 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 44.32 million USD, ranking 61st out of 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
Regarding development cooperation, Ireland considers Vietnam a priority partner in its development cooperation policy, focusing on the fields of education, gender equality, climate change response, and support for ethnic minorities; and continues to maintain the provision of non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in the fields of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, education and training, support for people with disabilities, and mine clearance.
The State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the Republic of Ireland this time contributes to enhancing political trust and consolidating the Vietnam-Ireland friendship; promoting cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, education and training, agriculture, etc.
Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/tong-thong-ireland-chu-tri-le-don-chinh-thuc-tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-to-lam-394683.html
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)