Attending the welcoming ceremony were European Council President Antonio Costa, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang; Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai; Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang; Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung; Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang; Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Dang Hong Duc; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai; Vietnamese Ambassador to the EU Nguyen Van Thao; Assistant President Duong Quoc Hung.
The convoy escorting European Council President Antonio Costa entered the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong was present at the red carpet warmly welcoming Mr. Antonio Costa to lead the EU High-Level Delegation's official visit to Vietnam. Representatives of the Capital's children proceeded to present the President of the European Council with a bouquet of fresh flowers.
In the sound of welcoming music, President Luong Cuong and European Council President Antonio Costa advanced to the podium of honor. After listening to the Vietnamese National Anthem and the European Union, President Luong Cuong and European Council President Antonio Costa left the podium, stepped forward to bow to the army flag and review the Honorary Team of the Vietnam People's Army.
Next, the two leaders introduced the composition of the high-level delegation of Vietnam and the European Union to attend the welcoming ceremony.
The European Union and Vietnam officially established diplomatic relations on November 28, 1990. Since then, relations between the two sides have developed more and more positively.
The success of foreign affairs activities has contributed to raising the level of Vietnam - Europe relations and expanding the strategic cooperation space for Vietnam in all fields of politics, economy, trade - investment, science - technology..., bringing important resources to serve the new era of development of the country.
In the context of the continuous strengthening of relations between Vietnam and the EU, the official visit to Vietnam by European Council President Antonio Costa is of utmost importance to Vietnam-EU relations, demonstrating the EU's recognition and high appreciation for Vietnam's correct foreign policy, independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of international relations, while affirming Vietnam's increasingly high position and prestige in the international arena, especially as an important partner of the EU in the Asia-Pacific region.
After the welcoming ceremony, President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council Antonio Costa had a briefing before leading the high-level delegation of Vietnam and the EU to hold talks, assess the results of cooperation between the two sides in the past and propose directions for cooperation in the coming time.
