(VOVworld) - President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Berlin Tuesday to begin a three-day visit to Germany at the invitation of German President Joachim Gauck. President Sang was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at Tegel Airport by head of the Presidential Office of Germany David Gill, Deputy Chief of Protocol under Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Konrad Arz Von Straussenburg, Vietnamese Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung, and the Vietnamese Embassy staff.

President Truong Tan Sang is welcomed at Tegel Airport (Source: VNA)

President Sang hailed Vietnam-German relations in all fields, noting that bilateral economic cooperation has grown remarkably and become a key pillar in the two countries’ strategic partnership. He said: "Germany is one of Vietnam’s most important partners in Europe. We hope that both sides will strive forward to boost the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership for mutual development and prosperity."

Later that day, the President met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany and briefed them on Vietnam’s current socio-economic situation and policies. He highlighted Vietnam’s major achievements in 30 years of renewal with an annual growth rate of 6 percent. Hailing the contribution of overseas Vietnamese to their homeland, President Truong Tan Sang reiterated that the Vietnamese community abroad is an integral part of Vietnam. He said the Vietnamese Party and State will protect the interests of overseas Vietnamese and said he hopes the Vietnamese in Germany will support each other and preserve their traditional culture.