Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Vietnam on a state visit

A red carpet was laid on the ramp and a guard of honour was given to welcome Putin. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, head of the CPV Central Committee's international affairs department Le Hoai Trung and Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang met with Russian President Putin, TASS reported.

The report says that during his visit Putin will meet four Vietnamese leaders, including the president, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the country's Communist Party, the prime minister of the government and the chairman of the National Assembly. He will also meet with graduates of Soviet and Russian universities.

The Russian President visited North Korea ahead of his Vietnam trip. During his visit, Putin announced a significant boost in ties between Russia and North Korea, CNN reported, stressing a commitment to mutual assistance in case of an invasion. He described it as a “successful” strategic partnership announced during his rare visit to the reclusive kingdom.

Thousands of North Koreans lined the city's wide streets waving Russian and North Korean flags and bouquets of flowers and chanting “Welcome Putin” during Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, the leaders signed a comprehensive partnership agreement that will replace previous agreements from 1961, 2000 and 2001.

Elaborating on the agreement, Putin said, “The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today includes, among other things, a provision on mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement.”

He praised the agreement, saying it covers political, trade, investment, cultural and security areas and called it “a really important document”. Putin also criticized joint military exercises by the United States, South Korea and Japan, calling them “hostile” towards North Korea and described US policy as “confrontational”.

In response, Kim Jong-un praised the new “alliance” as a significant moment in bilateral relations. The visit was celebrated with merriment at a welcoming ceremony in Kim Il Sung Square, where horsemen, military personnel and children carrying balloons cheered in front of a backdrop of large portraits of the two leaders.

They greeted each other and stood together as the Russian national anthem was played, then smiled and waved to the crowd as they boarded an open-top limousine, CNN reported.

During their meeting Putin presented Kim with an Aurus car, a gift from a previous meeting, and a tea set; although the exact gift Putin received was not disclosed, his aide Yuri Ushakov described it as a “nice gift”.