President Joko Widodo arrives in Hanoi for three-day Vietnam visit
VOV.VN - Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on January 11, beginning a three-day working visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.
The President is being accompanied by a number of ministers in charge of foreign affairs, State-owned enterprises, industry, fisheries, along with other officials.
Widodo and his entouraged were welcomed at the airport by Chairman of the President Office Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong.
Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi and a number of officials from the Indonesian Embassy were also on hand.
This is Widodo’s second state visit to Vietnam after the first in 2018.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is currently Vietnam’s third largest trading partner, while Vietnam is Indonesia’s fourth largest trading partner.
Two-way trade turnover between the two countries has grown rapidly over the years, from just US$4.6 billion to US$14.2 billion in 2022, surpassing the US$10 billion target set for 2023. Bilateral trade fetched US$12.63 billion between January – November 2023, and was estimated to hit US$15 billion by the year’s end.
In an interview granted to Vietnamese media agencies ahead of Widodo’s departure, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi noted both Indonesia and Vietnam have great potential for stronger cooperation, and it’s time for the two sides to lift their ties to new heights.
President Vo Van Thuong and President Joko Widodo are scheduled to hold talks shortly after the official welcoming ceremony due to take place in Hanoi on January 12 morning.
