President Higgins receives the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Tô Lâm at Áras an Uachtaráin on a State Visi

President Higgins receives the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Tô Lâm at Áras an Uachtaráin on a State Visi

Date: Wed 2nd Oct, 2024 | 17:32

Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina today received the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Tô Lâm, at Áras an Uachtaráin. The event represented the official commencement of President Lâm's two-day State Visit to Ireland.

Following the ceremonial welcome, a private meeting took place between the two Heads of State followed by a bilateral meeting with their delegations. President Higgins expressed his condolences to Persident Lâm following the loss of life and destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi. After the bilateral meeting, President Lâm planted an Irish Oak tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin to mark the Visit.

In their meetings, the Presidents discussed a number of topics including global food security, concerns regarding the current situation in the Middle East, the importance of the Geneva Conventions, diplomatic relations between the two countries, the importance of human rights, and the potential for further strengthening relations between the two countries in areas such as trade and investment, education and training, and culture and tourism.

The State Visit by President Tô Lâm is the first State Visit to Ireland by a Vietnamese President, and his first State Visit to Europe following his inauguration as President. The Visit reciprocates the State Visit of President Higgins to Vietnam in November 2016, when President Higgins became the first Irish Head of State to make a State Visit to Vietnam.

President Higgins thanked President Lâm for the reception which he received on his visits to Hanoi, Dong Ha and Ho Chi Minh City during his 2016 State Visit.

President Lâm will return to Áras an Uachtaráin this evening for a State Dinner in his honour, to be hosted by the President and Sabina Higgins. Both Presidents are expected to speak at the State Dinner, guests at which will include members of the Vietnamese community in Ireland.