Bodh Gaya, May 5 (IANS) Vietnamese President To Lam visited Bodh Gaya, the place where Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment, and offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple.

Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary extended a warm welcome to the Vietnamese President upon his arrival in Gayaji for a three-day visit to India.

Earlier, in 2011, he had planted a Bodhi tree at the Phat Tich Pagoda in Bac Ninh, which was brought from Bodh Gaya.

The Bihar CM expressed confidence that the Vietnamese President’s visit would strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Samrat Choudhary took to social media ‘X’ and said, “We extended a warm welcome and hearty greetings to the President of Vietnam, To Lam, upon his arrival in Gayaji — a city steeped in spirituality, culture, and heritage.’

“This historic visit will undoubtedly elevate the deep-rooted ties between India and Vietnam to new heights,” he said.

To Lam, also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will be in India till May 7. This is his first visit to India after being elected as the President of Vietnam earlier this month.

During his visit, President To Lam will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on May 6.

Following this, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with President To Lam across the spectrum of bilateral relations, along with regional and global issues of mutual interest.

President Droupadi Murmu will also hold a meeting with the visiting leader.

Other leaders are also expected to call on President To Lam.

According to the MEA, the Vietnamese President will also visit Bodh Gaya and Mumbai during his visit.

The Ministry further stated that the engagements between leaders will provide “fresh momentum to the robust bilateral relations” and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam.

Earlier, on April 7, PM Modi congratulated To Lam on his election as Vietnam’s President and expressed readiness to work with him further to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

He had expressed confidence that the time-tested friendship between the two nations would continue to grow under To Lam’s leadership.

“Heartiest congratulations to Mr To Lam on his election as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I am confident that under his leadership, the time-tested friendship between our two countries will continue to grow from strength to strength. I look forward to working closely together to further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the progress and prosperity of our people and the region,” PM Modi had posted on X.

“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, agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Vietnam in 2016,” the MEA said.

–IANS

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