Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni paid a state visit to Vietnam from November 28 to 29 at the invitation of President Luong Cuong.
Attending the welcoming ceremony for the King of Cambodia at the Presidential Palace were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh; Head of the Office of the President Le Khanh Hai; Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son;
Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien; Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang; Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy; Assistant to the President Tong Thanh Tri; Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen; and Ambassadors and Charge d'Affaires of ASEAN countries in Vietnam.
A large number of people, Veterans Association, youth and children of the capital stood along both sides of the road leading to the Presidential Palace, waving Vietnamese and Cambodian flags to welcome King Norodom Sihamoni and the Cambodian high-ranking delegation.
The motorcade escorting King Norodom Sihamoni entered the Presidential Palace. President Luong Cuong was present on the red carpet to warmly welcome King Norodom Sihamoni, who led a high-ranking Cambodian delegation on a state visit to Vietnam. Children came forward to present the King with a bouquet of fresh flowers.
Amidst the welcoming music, President Luong Cuong invited King Norodom Sihamoni to step up to the podium.
After listening to the national anthems of both countries, President Luong Cuong and King Norodom Sihamoni stepped forward to salute the military flag and inspect the Guard of Honor of the Vietnam People's Army. The two leaders then introduced the high-ranking delegations of the two countries attending the welcoming ceremony.
At noon on November 28, the King of Cambodia arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, beginning a state visit to Vietnam.
Accompanying King Norodom Sihamoni on his visit to Vietnam were: Samdech Mahamontrei Kuy Sophal - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Royal Palace, Supreme Advisor to the King; Mr. Neth Savoeun - Deputy Prime Minister; Ms. Chan Samdarind - Supreme Advisor to the King, Deputy Chief of the King's Office;
Ms. Mean Som An - Senator, Chairman of Senate Committee 8; Mr. Sous Yara - Member of Parliament, Chairman of Parliament Committee 5; Mr. Vann Van - Supreme Advisor to the King; Mr. Kol Bunly - Supreme Advisor to the King, Minister of State for the Royal Palace;
Ms. Chea Kimtha - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia to Vietnam; Mr. Kan Sovanna - Secretary of State of the Royal Palace Ministry; Mr. Nov Sorpiseth - Secretary of State of the Royal Palace Ministry; Mr. Chiep Chanyoutha - Secretary of State of the Royal Palace Ministry.
Before the solemn welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the King of Cambodia laid flowers at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, laid flowers and visited President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum.
King Norodom Sihamoni was born on May 14, 1953, in Phnom Penh, the son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. He was officially crowned King of Cambodia on October 29, 2004.
This State visit to Vietnam is the fourth visit to Vietnam by Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.
