Philippines welcomes Vietnam’s top leader To Lam with 21-gun salute

The ceremony featured the highest protocol honors reserved for visiting heads of state.

The top Vietnamese leader, his spouse, and the high-ranking delegation arrived in Manila on Sunday afternoon, beginning their state visit to the Philippines until Monday.

Before the welcome ceremony, President Marcos and the First Lady greeted Party chief and State President Lam and his spouse upon their arrival.

The two leaders, accompanied by their spouses, walked along a red carpet to the podium.

A 21-gun salute was fired as the national anthems of Vietnam and the Philippines were played.

The commander of the Philippine military honor guard then reported to the leaders before President Marcos invited the top Vietnamese leader to inspect the guard of honor.

Following the inspection, the two leaders introduced members of their respective delegations attending the ceremony.

The two leaders and their spouses later traveled by electric vehicle to the venue for official talks.

The visit comes as Vietnam and the Philippines mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a milestone that both sides view as an opportunity to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong described the visit as carrying ‘special significance.’

It is the first official visit to the Philippines by a leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, reflecting Vietnam’s high regard for its friendship and cooperation with the Philippines, as well as its commitment to Southeast Asia, he noted.

The visit is aimed at further strengthening political trust between the two countries, which is seen as the foundation for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

Cuong said the visit is expected to generate fresh momentum for economic cooperation, making it a more prominent pillar of bilateral relations.

He highlighted significant growth potential in areas such as trade, investment, logistics, high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, digital transformation, and the maritime economy.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said that relations between the two countries have steadily developed over the past five decades, creating a strong foundation for cooperation.

She described the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership in 2015 as a pivotal step that enhanced collaboration in political, economic, and defense affairs.

Two-way trade surpassed US$7 billion in 2025, supported by the growing presence of major companies from both countries.

Vietnamese firms including VinFast, FPT Software, and Thaco Auto have expanded their footprint in the Philippines, while Philippine companies such as Jollibee, San Miguel, and ACEN have strengthened their engagement in Vietnam.

Calling the top Vietnamese leader’s visit a historic milestone with deep strategic significance, she expressed hope that the visit would advance three key pillars of cooperation, including raising bilateral trade to over $10 billion, strengthening maritime collaboration in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and enhancing people-to-people exchanges in education, culture, and tourism.