President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind arrived at the Da Nang International Airport here on Sunday. The President will be in Vietnam from November 18 to November 21. They were received by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang, Huynh C Tho, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Nang city and Dao Viet Trung, Chairman of the President’s Office.
President Kovind and the First Lady have departed for Hotel Furama Resort. In the evening, the President and First Lady will meet leaders of the Da Nang People’s Committee. Da Nang has a rich historical and civilisational connection with India. The place is famous for its world heritage site of My Son, and has remnants of Buddhist connections and the Hindu Cham civilization in the form of ancient temples.
“The Archaeological Survey of India is helping Vietnam in the preservation and conservation of some of the temples,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. On November 19 (Monday), President Kovind will pay a visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. During the visit, he will participate in a group photo session with the museum staff. The President and First Lady will also participate in a photo-op with provincial leaders.
After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The President is expected to address the Vietnam-India Business Forum and the Indian community in the city. He is also slated to meet an Indian business delegation.
On November 20 (Tuesday), President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs. After that, they will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After visiting the mausoleum, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Presidential Palace, where they will be received by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife. President Kovind will be accorded the Guard of Honour here.
After this, a restricted meeting and delegation-level talks would be held between the two Presidents, which will be followed by signing and exchange of agreements and press statements. President Kovind will then leave for the National Assembly of Vietnam, where he will meet Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of the assembly. He will also address the National Assembly.
The President is also scheduled to meet Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Prime Minister of Vietnam at the Government House. After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for the International Convention Centre for a banquet dinner. After wrapping up his bilateral engagements here, the President and First Lady will depart for Sydney, Australia, on the evening of November 21.