Vietnam President, To Lam arrived at Bodh Gaya in Bihar today on a three-day State Visit to India. He was received at the airport by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. During his visit, President To Lam will offer prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He will also visit the Vietnamese Monastery in Bodh Gaya. Tight security arrangements have been put in place in Bodh Gaya and Gayaji in view of his visit.

President To Lam is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Vietnam along with a strong business delegation.The Vietnamese President will arrive in New Delhi later in the day. Tomorrow, President To Lam will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with President To Lam across the spectrum of bilateral relations as also on regional and global issues of mutual interest. President Droupadi Murmu will hold a meeting with President To Lam in the evening. Other Indian dignitaries are also expected to call on President To Lam. On Thursday, President To Lam will visit Mumbai.

The External Affairs Ministry said, this will be President To Lam’s first State Visit to India, after being elected as the President of Vietnam last month. Our correspondent reports that India and Vietnam share historical and civilisational ties, which have steadily deepened over the years. President To Lam’s visit coincides with the special occasion of the two countries marking the 10th anniversary of the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The engagement between leaders is expected to provide fresh momentum to the robust bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam.