state visit purpose

What is a state visit?

A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state of one country to the head of state of another country.

A state visit is the highest level of international visit, and its purpose is to confirm the good relationship between the countries concerned. The King is the only person who can make a state visit on behalf of the Netherlands. He is typically accompanied by his wife, Queen Máxima, and often by a business delegation. The King makes one or two state visits a year, and there are two incoming visits a year to the Netherlands by heads of state of friendly nations.

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Pm narendra modi's us trip: what's a state visit and how is it different from an official trip.

State visits are the highest-level foreign visits to the US by a head of state, involving highly ceremonial engagements, diplomatic meetings, cultural exchanges, media coverage, and symbolic gestures. A state visit signifies the US's strong friendship and alliance with the visiting nation, with France's President Emmanuel Macron and South Korea's President being the only two state visitors under President Joe Biden's administration.

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• Politics and policy

Trump won’t get the VIP treatment on UK trip, but what’s the difference between a state visit and working visit?

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Downing Street has confirmed that US president Donald Trump will be visiting the UK later this year.

The news comes after Trump cancelled a visit planned for February earlier this month.

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While prime minister of the UK Theresa May offered Trump a state visit last year, he will be sorely disappointed upon arrival.

Trump may “ be prepared to apologise ” for retweeting videos posted by far-right group Britain First, whether due to genuine remorse or in an attempt at improving relations with the British public ahead of his visit.

However, a free upgrade to one of Buckingham Palace’s guest suites is off the cards regardless.

Both governments have confirmed that the visit won’t be a full-scale state visit. Instead it will be a less formal working visit, but what’s the difference between the two?

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What is a state visit?

A state visit is an official visit to a foreign country by a serving head of state. In order to travel to a country on a state visit, an official must be invited by the host country’s head of state.

Visitors typically include Monarchs, Presidents and Prime Ministers.

For example, the UK has previously welcomed former US president Barack Obama and United Arab Emirates royal Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The US has previously welcomed the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

During state visits, the host nation offers its guests the highest level of hospitality. This extends not only the visiting official, but their delegation of personnel.

The host nation covers all of the costs, including accommodation and travel costs.

Typically, head of states visiting the United Kingdom are put up in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

According to the official British Royal Family website , these visits “play an integral role in strengthening Britain’s relationships with countries across the world”.

What happens on a state visit?

Typically, countries do not organise state visits to discuss or debate issues. They are a celebration of sort which focuses on the links between the two head of states’ nations.

Each country has their own way of welcoming head of states shaped by its own customs. However, host nations typically welcome arrivals with at least some of these events:

A welcome from the hosting head of state and their ambassadors.

A 21-gun salute, a military honour in honour of the visiting official., a military band playing both national anthems., an exchange of gifts between the two officials..

Following the visiting official’s arrival, a state banquet is usually held in their honour . Both heads tend to give a speech at the end of a lavish meal.

Throughout the visit, the visitor often pays visits to landmarks and historic sites. For example, Barack Obama visited the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey during his state visit to the UK in 2011.

How is a working visit different?

A working visit is similar to a state visit. It still refers to an official visit to a foreign country by a current head of state. However, they are less formal than state visits and tend to be stripped back affairs.

Most often, these visits are organised for officials to discuss issues between their two countries , rather than strengthen relations.

Unlike a state visit, the hosting head of state doesn’t need to approve a working visit ahead of the planned trip.

However, this also means that the host doesn’t have to treat its guests to the same level of hospitality as those on state visits. The hosting head of state doesn’t offer a royal welcome and a stay in their home is off the cards too.

The visiting party covers all of the costs involved and must organise their own accommodation and transport throughout their stay.

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• American History

17 Facts about State Visits by Foreign Rulers to the White House Most People Don’t Know

State visits form the prestigious centerpiece of international diplomacy, bringing together the two heads of state from respective nations in a rare and intimate interaction. Designed to demonstrate the bonds of friendship between the two countries, these carefully orchestrated and engineered events serve as public expressions of bilateral relations. Involving strictly delineated ceremonies, following decades, if not centuries, old protocols, these extravagant occasions are auspicious, time-consuming, and costly endeavors. Despite this, understanding of the precise meanings and nuanced significance of many of the important moments of state visits is found habitually lacking; sometimes, even on those in attendance.

Here are 17 facts about state visits by foreign rulers to the White House:

17. State visits, as the name suggests, are a privilege only granted to the formal heads of state from the respective visiting nation and under specific circumstances

State visits to the United States of America occur only when a foreign head of state visits whilst acting in their sovereign capacity. The latter stipulation separates a “head of state visit” from an “official visit”, denoting an occasion of uniquely special importance to the guest dignitary. An exception to this strict protocol was made in 1944 by President Roosevelt for General Charles de Gaulle, the leader of Free France: the French Republic’s government-in-exile during the Nazi occupation. Featuring “all the trappings of a visiting head of state”, due to America’s recognition of his status as the legitimate, if not formal, head of state of France, de Gaulle was respectfully provided with the formalities.

Although the same length as an official visit, four days, subtle differences exist between the two events. Despite recipients of both enjoying a flight-line ceremony, a White House arrival ceremony and dinner, the exchange of diplomatic gifts, an invitation to reside at Blair House, and flag street-lining, along with an opportunity – subject to negotiations – to make an address to Congress, minor alterations separate the occasions. For example, during a state visit the White House dinner is white-tie as opposed to black-tie for an official visit, whilst the arrival ceremony features as 21-gun salute instead of only a 19-gun salute.

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16. In an effort to preserve the auspicious value of a formal state visit, invitations are carefully distributed to prevent diplomatic incidents and maximize their effect

In order to preserve the significance of a state visit to the United States, great effort is taken to maintain their exclusivity and status. There is often only one or two state invites issued per year, with an informal rule also stipulating that no nation shall be hosted more than once every four years to prevent the appearance of favoritism; consequently, many close allies enjoy repeated official visits but only one state visit per administration. Every American President from Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) hosted at least one state dinner at the White House each year, a tradition that ran until 2017 when Donald Trump abandoned this convention and invited nobody.

Due to the resultant importance attached to state visits, their invitation has proved a controversial honor and statement over the years. In 1995, the Clinton Administration considered inviting the President of the People’s Republic of China. Facing a backlash from Congress, the invitation was downgraded to the less formal official visit or an official working visit. China, outraged, declined this revised offer, insisting that President Jiang Zemin should be afforded the same respect as other heads of state. Eventually, in 1997 Zemin enjoyed a state visit to the United States, visiting Hawaii, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles, as well as attending a state dinner in his honor at the White House.

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15. Declining an invitation for a state dinner to the White House is an immensely rare affront, breaching decades of carefully and precisely delineated protocol

Receiving an invitation to attend a state dinner in the United States is an extremely rare privilege, even for a head of state, and, consequently, declining said invitation is broadly perceived as an enormous repudiation of both the incumbent President and of the U.S. itself. Formal diplomatic protocol provides individuals invited to attend state dinners just four reasons to politely decline the solicitations of the American President: a death in the immediate family, a serious illness preventing attendance, a family wedding, or an “unavoidable” requirement for their absence from Washington D.C. Failure to provide a suitable excuse will be treated as a personal attack on the First Family or guest dignitary and future invites will be discontinued.

Due to the diplomatic repercussions of publicly rejecting an invitation, it is unknown exactly how many world leaders have declined an offer of a state visit. One known instance, occurring in 1986, involved King Hassan II of Morocco, who canceled a planned visit to Washington D.C. at the eleventh hour. Citing personal fatigue, the incident was widely interpreted as an expression of annoyance at America’s criticism of Moroccan relations with Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

14. The first state visit to the White House did not occur until 1874, almost 100 years into the United States’ existence

Despite the strategic and diplomatic importance of hosting foreign heads of state, it would not be until 1874, nearly a century after the founding of the United States of America, that one would visit the White House. In 1874, the newly elected King of Hawaii, Kalākaua, became the first when he visited Ulysses S. Grant at his official residence, enjoying the first state dinner ever hosted by an American President. Although another state dinner would not be held until 1931, when President Hoover hosted King Prajadhipok of Siam, the tradition of state visits had been started and the number swiftly increased.

Two years later, in 1876, Emperor Pedro II of Brazil became the first South American head of state to visit the United States. Although followed by President Justo Rufino Barrios of Guatemala, the first North American, in 1882, the geographical gap separating the American continent from the rest of the world would take decades to be broken down. It would not be until 1913 that a European head of state visited the United States: Prince Albert I of Monaco. After a pause to permit for the World War I and peacetime diplomacy to resume, the aforementioned visit of King Prajadhipok in 1931 saw the first Asian head of state visit, and, finally, in 1943, with President Edwin Barclay of Liberia, an African head of state completed the continental checklist.

13. Typically arriving at Joint Base Andrews, the head of state is met by an official delegation and a military honor guard consisting of exactly twenty-one soldiers

During modern state visits, the extravagant event begins with the arrival of the guest dignitary via aircraft at Joint Base Andrews: a military facility located in Maryland that serves as the home for the multiple aircraft known interchangeably as Air Force One. A red carpet is rolled out for the honored visitor and a military cordon, comprised of members from the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard, and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, forms on either side; this cordon includes precisely 21 individuals for heads of state.

Descending from the aircraft to the performance of “Arrival Fanfare Number One” by the U.S. Air Force Band, the visiting head of state is met by an American child offering a bouquet of flowers. The honored guest is subsequently greeted by a welcoming committee, led by the United States Chief of Protocol and including the American ambassador to the visiting nation, the ambassador from the visiting nation to the United States, the commanding general of Joint Base Andrews, in addition to two or three carefully selected persons representing the nature of the visit and the historic relationship between the two countries.

12. The “world’s most exclusive hotel”, Blair House serves as the Presidential Guest House and plays host to visiting heads of state during their respective visits

Following introductions at Joint Base Andrews, visiting heads of state are transported to the President’s Guest House, also known as Blair House. Located in Washington D.C, the present building, an amalgamation of Blair House, Lee House, Peter Parker House, and 704 Jackson Place, is actually larger than the White House. Constructed in 1824, Blair House was sold to the U.S. government in 1942 for use by visiting foreign dignitaries. A key motivation behind the purchase was the intrusive familiarity of Winston Churchill during his frequent stays at the White House; the British Prime Minister would, allegedly and to the dismay of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wander into the private apartments and attempt to engage in conversation in the middle of the night.

During renovations of the White House under the Truman Administration, President Truman elected to reside at Blair House; it was in the course of this stay that Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate Truman in November 1950. Whilst a head of state is a guest at Blair House, their national flag or personal standard is flown atop the building as a reflection of their status. Should two foreign visitors of equal rank, for example two heads of state, be invited to Washington D.C. at the same time, neither is offered Blair House to avert any inference of personal favoritism.

11. The next day, the visiting head of state is greeted at the White House by the American President and an entourage in a formal display of pageantry

The following morning, allowing the traveled head of state an opportunity to recover from their journey and freshen up, their state visit begins in earnest with the Arrival Ceremony. Introduced to the pageantry of American traditions as recently as the 1940s, the President of the United States hosts an event on the South Lawn of the White House and greets his distinguished guests. Of note, for an official working visit, in contrast to a state visit, the guest dignitary is not received on the South Lawn but instead the arrival ceremony is held at the Pentagon’s parade ground; equally, instead of being greeted by the President, the Secretary of Defense serves as the presiding officer over the event.

After an exchange of formal greetings and pleasantries, the President introduces his guests to the remainder of the welcoming committee. Although varying in membership, the committee is obliged to include the Vice-President, the United States Cabinet, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but might also include senior members of Congress and other relevant figures from American political life. Following these introductions, the visiting nation’s anthem is performed by a military band, in the course of which a 21-gun-howitzer salute is fired by the Presidential Salute Battery, followed by the American national anthem in a show of deference and respect to their guests.

10. After meeting the gathered officials, it is customary for the visiting head of state to perform an inspection of an honor guard of military personnel from the host nation

As is traditional in state visits around the world, awaiting the honored dignitary is a ceremonial military guard of honor. In a reciprocal act of politeness, it is customary that the host and guest heads of state perform a brief inspection of the soldiers in attendance. Carried out to the performance of a military band, the two heads of state enact a short walk-by inspection of those assembled. Unlike a political gathering or informal occasion, conversation is not tolerated between either the heads of state or the politicians and military personnel; the inspection is a sacred formality, serving to display the authority of the president as commander-in-chief, not an opportunity to converse.

Following this brief close-up inspection, the heads of state climb a review stand to watch the fife and drum corps of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment conduct a pass-in-review. The troops march past the raised dais, allowing for an overview of the military personnel present. This procession is performed to the tune of Yankee Doodle – an American marching song dating to the American Revolutionary War. An exception is made during visitations by the United Kingdom, for which, reflecting the “Special Relationship” between the countries, the tune used is The British Grenadiers : a marching song popular during the 17th and 18th centuries among English regiments, particular in the Americas.

9. Following the military inspection, both the American and guest head of state makes brief addresses to those assembled

Following the review of the assembled troops, the President of the United States delivers a brief address welcoming his guests to the White House. Contrasting with the preceding seriousness of the military inspection, in addition to imparting sincere expressions regarding the bilateral relations between their countries this occasion is generally seized as an opportunity to lighten the mood and defuse any nerves between himself and his guests. Light-hearted remarks concerning historic rivalries form the basis of these exchanges, with their extent a close measure of the personal friendliness of the respective heads of state.

Following this polite introduction, the visiting head of state is then granted the opportunity to make his own address in response. Akin to their American counterpart’s statements, the visiting dignitary is expected to thank their hosts, speak on the subject of the enduring friendship between their nations, and express their hopes for the visit. Typically, the speech offered by the guest head of state is considerably shorter than the American President and possessing fewer prepared jokes to avoid any potential diplomatic incident. After completion, a procession is formed which enters the White House via the Blue Room.

8. After signing into the White House, the visiting head of state is taken to the Red Room for the traditional exchanging of diplomatic gifts between the two leaders as a sign of respect and friendship

In the Blue Room, the traveling head of state is asked to register their visit in the White House guest book. Traditionally this is used to keep a record of the comings and goings of the incumbent administration and allow the visiting dignitary to leave a polite note to the First Family and staff. The president and his guest subsequently retire to the Red Room, wherein diplomatic gifts are exchanged. The process of exchanging gifts is a formality, with the objects determined in advance and already in place; rather than truly exchanging these tokens of affection, they are merely viewed by the heads of state and politely accepted.

These gifts often retain a symbolic meaning between the two leaders or nations, with the most iconic being the Resolute Desk. Residing to this day in the Oval Office, the fixture was craved from timbers from the British ship H.M.S. Resolute which had become trapped in ice during an Arctic exploration and was gifted to the United States by Queen Victoria in 1880. However, not all presents possess such meaning or history, but instead can include more bizarre items, including in 1990 a Komodo dragon named “Naga” from President Suharto of Indonesia to George H.W. Bush whilst Theodore Roosevelt was gifted a zebra and a lion by Ethiopia.

7. Concluding the formalities of the arrival ceremony, a three-course luncheon is held for the honored head of state

After exchanging of gifts, the arrival ceremony concludes with a luncheon. The location of this meal is determined by the wishes of the guest and the purpose behind their visit. If the visiting head of state is an active executive, seeking to conduct formal business during their trip, they will typically be hosted at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. Located in the Harry S. Truman Building, the headquarters of the Department of State, prior to their departure a mock photo portrait is made at the White House as a courtesy. If not, and the individual is a non-executive head of state, for example Elizabeth II, they are hosted at the White House.

A luncheon at the White House is intimately hosted by the President and First Lady, whereas one at the Department of State is a much larger event co-hosted by the Vice-President and Secretary of State; in fact, the President does not even attend luncheons at Foggy Bottom. Consisting traditionally of three courses, before which the hosts and visiting dignitary make prepared speeches, the number in attendance can exceed 200, including senior members of Congress, the cabinet, and former diplomats. Despite being a luncheon, it is not uncommon for senior attendees, including the honored guest, to depart prior to the food being served.

6. On the evening of the second day, a state dinner is held at the White House with the visiting head of state as the guest of honor

In the evening of the same day, a formal state dinner is held at the White House in honor of the distinguished guest. As noted previously, the dress code for state dinners has traditionally been white tie, but recent years has seen a relaxing of these rigid rules. Visiting heads of state are permitted to wear national dress instead of Western evening dress, whilst leaders of socialist countries, notably Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Chinese President Hu Jintao, symbolically refused to wear formal evening dress. Involving approximately 120-150 individuals, with many of the seats predetermined by status, only a handful of invitations are sent out to non-official persons.

The dinner is traditionally held in the State Dining Room, with the adjoining Red Room available in the event of overflow and a requirement for additional seating capacity. If the weather is permitting, then state dinners are also sometimes held outdoors in the White House gardens. This unusual locale was used during state dinners in honor of West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard in 1964 and Elizabeth II in 1976. Guests are seated at ten-person round-tables, the traditional number for a formal dinner. The use of round tables, as opposed to banquet tables, was initiated by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who wished for all of her guests to be able to converse with one another more easily.

5. As part of a carefully selected menu and dinner ceremony, since the Kennedy Administration non-American wines are not permitted to be served at the White House

Menus for state dinners, consisting of four courses and served on custom-made White House china, are painstakingly written by hand by the White House Graphics and Calligraphy Office. Pursuant to a policy implemented during the Kennedy Administration, only American wines are permitted to be served at the White House; consequently, guests are treated to sparkling wines rather than the customary champagne. This tradition has been maintained to this day, with First Lady Melania Trump selecting a Crémant from California as her choice of wine during the most recent state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Atypically for American society, state dinners at the White House have continued to employ the use of finger bowls between the third and final courses. This custom has been reputedly extremely confusing for some American guests in attendance, with staff placed on alert to assist anyone unsure. In fact, at a state dinner during the Roosevelt Administration a guest mistakenly believed the water to was to be drunk. Sparing her poor guest from ridicule, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt followed suit and drank from hers also. Furthermore, tables at state dinners at the White House have traditionally been segregated by gender. However, during the Carter Administration this policy was temporarily discontinued, allowing for married couples to be seated together if they so wished.

4. The President performs an important role as the host of the dinner, greeting all of his guests to the historic building and ensuring nobody is overlooked

Before the formal start of the dinner, an intimate reception is held in the Yellow Oval Room for those that will be seated at the head table. Following this, the president and the visiting head of state descend the Grand Staircase, accompanied by a rendition of “Hail America” as part of the Presidential Entrance March. Arriving guests are proclaimed individually by an announcer, whereupon they are directed to the Blue Room to be greeted personally by the two heads of state. Brief pleasantries are exchanged, before the guests are ushered into the State Dining Room to be seated.

In 2009, during a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, three gatecrashers managed to gain access to the White House. All three, despite not being appearing on the guest list, were allowed to enter and were introduced to Obama and Singh. Enjoying a full evening of entertainment, their appearance was only noticed by Secret Service after they bragged about it on social media. Once all the guests are seated, both the American president and his guest of honor deliver reciprocal toasts to both each other and their nations. The press is then removed from the room and dinner is served privately.

3. Guests then retire to the East Room for a musical performance by an American artist, before commonly dancing to live jazz in the Entrance Hall

After the final course has been consumed, the President of the United States, along with his guest of honor, lead a recession through the Cross Hall. Passing between a cordon formed by members of one of the military orchestras, the guests are serenaded as they enter the East Room of the White House. Here, a performance by a leading American musical celebrity, lasting for between twenty to thirty minute, is held. In recent decades, popular choices have ranged from Frank Sinatra, to Jennifer Hudson, to the Washington National Opera due to a political boycott by musicians.

Following this light entertainment, guests are invited to the Entrance Hall to be served sparkling wine. The United States Marine Band’s jazz ensemble provides live music and social dancing takes place. This section of the state dinner program is the only negotiable component, being frequently omitted should the visitor feel uncomfortable or unable to partake in a dignified manner. For example, during a state visit by the head of state for the Holy See, the Pope, dancing would be regarded as inappropriate and excluded from the itinerary.

2. For the rest of their time in Washington D.C., visiting heads of state routinely engage in tours of monuments, historic sites, and tourist attractions

For the remainder of their stay in Washington D.C., visiting heads of state usually engage in public social appearances at historic and tourist attractions of special relevance. A common locale for a head of state to visit is the Virginia estate of George Washington: Mount Vernon. Not only a suitable engagement, but the event also allows for the visiting dignitary to escape the city into the countryside whilst simultaneously paying their respects at the sarcophagus of George Washington.

Idyllically located on the banks of the Potomac River, the only state dinner in American history to not take place at the White House was hosted at Mount Vernon. During the state visit of Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan, in July 1961, President Kennedy elected to host his guest at the historic home of his first predecessor. Other locations commonly visited by foreign heads of state include Arlington National Cemetery, where General de Gaulle notably paid obeisance at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1944, and Monticello, the home of President Thomas Jefferson, first visited by Indonesian Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir in 1947.

1. Following their stays in Washington D.C., visiting heads of state commonly tour the wider United States for a period of between five to ten days

Due in no small part to the geographical distance separating the United States from the rest of the world, as well as the size of the nation itself, world leaders embarking on state visits to the U.S. commonly enjoy a prolonged stay. Traveling beyond just the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., foreign heads of state commonly seek to tour other cities as part of their visit. For example, Chinese President Jiang Zemin opened his state visit in 1997 by touring colonial Williamsburg followed by Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

It is expected that the offer of a state visit to the United States is duly reciprocated. After visiting in 1997, Zemin hosted President Clinton in 1998, where the American leader accompanied his host to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor to view the Terracotta Army. In recent years, as hostility has increasingly grown towards the United States throughout the world it has become difficult to always accommodate this tradition, with President Trump’s planned state visit to the United Kingdom cancelled in anticipation of mass protests.

Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

“Satow’s Diplomatic Practice”, Ivor Roberts , Oxford University Press (2011)

“World: How The U.S. Ranks the Visits of Foreign Heads of State” , Julie Moffett, Radio Free Europe (August 9, 1997)

“White House Dinner, But What Kind?” , Marian Burros, The New York Times (November 24, 1993)

“King Kalakaua Goes to Washington, 1874” , Ishaan Tharoor, Time Magazine (January 10, 2011)

“The White House’s Dinner Theater” , Bob Colacello, Vanity Fair (May 11, 2010)

“Notable State Dinners at the White House”, White House Historical Association.

“Visits to the U.S. by Foreign Heads of State and Government: 1874-1939” , United States State Department”.

“When Leaders From Abroad Come to Call” , Barbara Gamareikan, The New York Times (July 20, 1986)

“Brazil’s Rousseff cancels state visit to U.S. over spying report” , Reuters (September 17, 2013)

“United States Protocol”, Mary Mel French, Rowman and Littlefield (2010)

“Yankee Doodle is Dandied!” , Lesa Jansen, CNN (March 12, 2012)

“Lincoln Didn’t Sleep Here But Clinton Friends Do” , Angie Cannon, Chicago Tribune (March 4, 1994)

“What’s it like to attend an official state luncheon for a visiting head of state” , Daniel Drezner, The Washington Post (September 28, 2015)

“A Brief History of White House State Dinners” , Time Magazine

“The White House: Actors and Observers” , William Seale, White House Historical Association (2002)

“White House: Serving Up Food and Emily Post” , Marian Burros, The New York Times (March 31, 1986)

“When Washington Was Fun” , Maureen Orth, Vanity Fair (December 2007)

“The Dinner Table can be a Wonderland” , Linda Brandt, Herald-Tribune (June 23, 2010)

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Barack Obama

Fact sheet: president xi jinping's state visit to the united states.

On September 24-25, 2015, President Barack Obama hosted President Xi Jinping of China for a State visit. The two heads of state exchanged views on a range of global, regional, and bilateral subjects. President Obama and President Xi agreed to work together to constructively manage our differences and decided to expand and deepen cooperation in the following areas:

Addressing Global and Regional Challenges

• Afghanistan- The United States and China decided to maintain communication and cooperation with one another on Afghanistan to support peaceful reconstruction and economic development in Afghanistan, support an "Afghan led, Afghan owned" reconciliation process, and promote trilateral dialogue among the United States, China, and Afghanistan. Together with Afghanistan, the United States and China will co-chair a high-level event on Afghanistan's reconstruction and development on the margins of the UN General Assembly on September 26. This event will convene Afghanistan's neighbors and the international community to discuss the importance of continuing robust regional and international support for the Afghan government and regional economic cooperation. The United States and China jointly renew their call on the Taliban to enter into direct talks with the Government of Afghanistan. The United States and China also noted their mutual interests in supporting peace, stability, and prosperity in neighboring countries of Afghanistan, and to working in partnership with these countries to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. • Peacekeeping - In recognition of the critical role UN and regional peacekeepers serve in maintaining international peace and security, the United States and China affirm to further increase their robust commitments to international peacekeeping efforts. The Chinese side appreciates the U.S. side's holding of the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping, and welcomes the new contributions to be announced by the United States to support peace operations. The United States welcomes the new contributions to be announced by China to support UN peacekeeping efforts. The United States and China recognize the need to deepen the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations on peace operations. Both sides look forward to an enhanced discussion with the African Union and other partners to further explore proposals to this end. Both sides decided to continue discussions to deepen cooperation on capacity building for troop- and police-contributing countries. • Nuclear Security- The United States and China commit to deepen their cooperation on nuclear security and to work together to make the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by President Obama next year a success. The two sides plan to hold an annual bilateral dialogue on nuclear security, with the first meeting of the dialogue to be held prior to the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit. • Wildlife Trafficking- The United States and China, recognizing the importance and urgency of combating wildlife trafficking, commit to take positive measures to address this global challenge. The United States and China commit to enact nearly complete bans on ivory import and export, including significant and timely restrictions on the import of ivory as hunting trophies, and to take significant and timely steps to halt the domestic commercial trade of ivory. The two sides decided to further cooperate in joint training, technical exchanges, information sharing, and public education on combating wildlife trafficking, and enhance international law enforcement cooperation in this field. The United States and China decided to cooperate with other nations in a comprehensive effort to combat wildlife trafficking. • Ocean Conservation- The United States and China intend to pursue actively cooperation on polar and ocean matters, including projects related to ocean conservation and expanding joint polar research efforts, and will work together on the proposal to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Antarctica's Ross Sea. The two sides also plan to support additional bilateral efforts in these fields, including ocean acidification monitoring and a partnership between the coastal cities of Xiamen and Weihai in China and San Francisco and New York in the United States to share best practices to reduce the flow of trash into the ocean.

Strengthening Development Cooperation

The United States and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a framework for development cooperation to guide our future collaborative efforts. The MOU recognizes our shared objectives in ending extreme poverty and advancing global development through enhanced collaboration and communication under the principle of development raised, agreed, and led by recipient countries.

• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . The United States and China are committed to advance sustainable and inclusive international development as laid out in the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through expanded cooperation to end poverty and hunger and the promotion of inclusive economic growth, and protection of the environment. The two sides intend to communicate and cooperate in implementing the Agenda and to help other countries achieve common development goals. • Food Security- The United States and China decided to enhance cooperation on global food security. The two sides intend to enhance communication and coordination with the government of Timor Leste and share lessons learned in agricultural development and food security while exploring prospects for further cooperation. Separately, the two sides intend to explore opportunities to cooperate on climate smart agriculture to produce more and better food for growing populations, while building the resilience of smallholder farmers. Such efforts may include technical cooperation, such as on climate friendly irrigation and mechanization for smallholder farmers in Africa to advance our shared interest in addressing the impact of climate change and enhancing food security. • Public Health and Global Health Security- The United States and China decided to enhance concrete cooperation in public health and global health security, accelerating full implementation of the World Health Organization International Health Regulations and assisting at-risk countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. The two sides plan to jointly work with the African Union and African Union Member States in the establishment of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and collaborate with partner governments in countries in West Africa to strengthen national public health capacities in the wake of Ebola, including strengthening the capacity of the cadres of public health and front line health workers. The two sides intend to enhance communication and exchanges regarding aid for health in West Africa. The two sides plan to continue to support and contribute to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response- The United States and China decided to expand cooperation on humanitarian response to disasters. The United States and China plan to participate constructively in the May 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. The two sides plan to expand existing cooperation on disaster response through increased support to multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group. The two sides intend to conduct capacity building cooperation for the post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal through mechanisms that promote collaboration between the international community and the Government of Nepal. • Multilateral Institutions. The United States and China intend to expand their collaboration with international institutions to tackle key global development challenges.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

• Military Relations- Building on the two Memoranda of Understanding on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) signed by the United States and China in November 2014, the two sides completed new annexes on air-to-air safety and crisis communications. The two sides committed to continue discussions on additional annexes to the Notification of Major Military Activities CBM, with the United States prioritizing completion of a mechanism for informing the other party of ballistic missile launches. The U.S. Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard have committed to pursue an arrangement whose intended purpose is equivalent to the Rules of Behavior Confidence Building Measure annex on surface-to-surface encounters in the November 2014 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Defense and the People's Republic of China Ministry of National Defense. • Cybersecurity- o The United States and China agree that timely responses should be provided to requests for information and assistance concerning malicious cyber activities. Further, both sides agree to cooperate, in a manner consistent with their respective national laws and relevant international obligations, with requests to investigate cybercrimes, collect electronic evidence, and mitigate malicious cyber activity emanating from their territory. Both sides also agree to provide updates on the status and results of those investigation to the other side, as appropriate. o The United States and China agree that neither country's government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors. o Both sides are committed to making common effort to further identify and promote appropriate norms of state behavior in cyberspace within the international community. The United States and China welcome the July 2015 report of the UN Group of Governmental Experts in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International security, which addresses norms of behavior and other crucial issues for international security in cyberspace. The two sides also agree to create a senior experts group for further discussions on this topic. o The United States and China agree to establish a high-level joint dialogue mechanism on fighting cybercrime and related issues. China will designate an official at the ministerial level to be the lead and the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Justice, and the State Internet and Information Office will participate in the dialogue. The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General will co-chair the dialogue, with participation from representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Intelligence Community and other agencies, for the United States. This mechanism will be used to review the timeliness and quality of responses to requests for information and assistance with respect to malicious cyber activity of concern identified by either side. As part of this mechanism, both sides agree to establish a hotline for the escalation of issues that may arise in the course of responding to such requests. Finally, both sides agree that the first meeting of this dialogue will be held by the end of 2015, and will occur twice per year thereafter.

• Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism- President Obama and President Xi decided to continue expanding law enforcement and anti-corruption cooperation, including by enhancing coordination and cooperation on criminal investigations, repatriation of fugitives, and asset recovery issues. The United States and China welcomed recent progress on repatriating Chinese fugitives and illegal immigrants through charter flights and look forward to continuing this cooperation. The United States welcomes China's commitment to consider joining the OECD Working Group on Bribery as a participant in the near future. As a new aspect of the Joint Liaison Group's role as the primary mechanism for law enforcement cooperation, both sides committed to discuss the mutual recognition and enforcement of forfeiture judgments. The two sides condemn all forms of terrorism and committed to expand exchange of information to counter the transnational flow of foreign terrorist fighters. The United States and China held a Counter-Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) Workshop on September 14 in Washington, DC, decided on principles for furthering efforts to counter the threat posed by IEDs, and committed to hold a follow-on workshop in China.

• People-to-People Exchange. The United States and China announced two new initiatives to expand the dynamic and positive people-to-people interaction that is the foundation of our bilateral relationship: (1) A 2016 U.S.-China Tourism Year—a cooperative tourism initiative led by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the China National Tourism Administration to expand and shape travel between our countries. This year of collaboration will include events to promote travel between the two countries, support progress on market access, and advance initiatives for both the United States and China to ensure a quality visitor experience for increasing numbers of travelers to and from both nations. (2) A "One Million Strong" initiative led by the 100,000 Strong Foundation that aims to have one million American students studying Mandarin by 2020. "One Million Strong" goals include doubling the number of Mandarin language teachers in the United States through a major investment in teachers colleges; employing technological tools to engage students in underserved and underrepresented communities; and creating "100K Strong States," a subnational consortium of U.S. governors committed to expanding Mandarin language-learning in their states.

Barack Obama, Fact Sheet: President Xi Jinping's State Visit to the United States Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/321688

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US To Host PM Modi On June 22: What Is State Visit And How Does It Differ From Others

A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state of one country to the head of state of another country.

• By Shivam Shandilya
• Published: Thu, 11 May 2023 04:42 PM (IST)
• Source: JND
• Google News

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi will go on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. In a press statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Moid said he will be hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House during his visit. The statement by MEA also said that the visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the United States, as the two nations are already collaborating across sectors. Meanwhile, a statement released by the White House read, "President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India for an Official State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on June 22, 2023." "The visit will strengthen the two countries' shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy, and space," the statement added. Notably, for PM Modi, this will be his first state visit to the US in his nine-year tenure as Prime Minister. The last state visit by an Indian was by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009. What Are State Visits? A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state of one country to the head of state of another country. It is the highest level of international visit, and the purpose of this visit is to develop good relationships between the countries concerned. For the United States, state visits can only occur on the invitation of the president of the US, acting in their capacity as the head of state. The US State Visit The state visits are usually a few days long and comprise a number of ceremonies. According to The Indian Express, the ceremonies included in the US are a flight line ceremony (where the visiting head of state is greeted at the tarmac after landing), a 21-gun salute White House arrival ceremony, a White House dinner, the exchange of diplomatic gifts, an invitation to stay at the Blair House (the US President’s guesthouse across the Pennsylvania Avenue) and flag streetlining. Difference Between A Normal And State Visits Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited the USA multiple times during his tenure, but none of them were state visits. However, his recent visit will be a state visit. Every visit cannot be considered a state visit because state visits are the highest-ranked category of foreign visits with great ceremonial importance and are considered the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between countries. According to US diplomatic policy, as quoted by The Indian Express, less important visits are classified as official visits, official working visits, working visits, guest-of-government visits, and private visits. For different visits, different protocols are followed. The striking difference between a state visit and others is that a state visit is made in sovereign capacity, with only the head of state/ head of government in parliamentary democracies allowed to make the visits. In other types of visits, other important leaders are included, including crown princes, vice presidents, and ceremonial heads of state, among others.

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Ceremonial welcome for Emperor and Empress of Japan at start of state visit

Posted: 25 June 2024 | Last updated: 25 June 2024

The Emperor and Empress of Japan received a ceremonial welcome of military pomp and pageantry as their state visit began. The King and Queen greeted their guests on Horse Guards Parade where some of the nation's most prestigious regiments were on display. The two heads of state warmly shook hands as did their wives under a large purpose-built pavilion that shielded them from the blistering summer sun. The Prince of Wales had escorted the emperor and empress from their overnight residence, arriving almost 10 minutes late in chauffeur driven cars.

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Britain's King Charles III welcomes the visiting Japanese emperor and empress

King Charles III has welcomed the Japanese emperor and empress for a state visit offering the best in pomp and circumstance

LONDON — King Charles III welcomed the Japanese emperor and empress for a state visit that began on Tuesday, offering the best in pomp and circumstance as the U.K. seeks to bolster its role as the most influential European nation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress of Masako are to attend a banquet hosted by the king, lay a wreath at Westminster Abbey and tour one of Britain’s premier biomedical research institutes. But the emperor began this week’s trip by visiting a site that has special meaning: The Thames Barrier.

The retractable flood control gates on the River Thames seemed a natural destination for a royal long interested in the waterway that runs through the heart of London. Naruhito studied 18th-century commerce on the river as a graduate student at the University of Oxford some 40 years ago.

He chronicled the interest in his memoir “The Thames and I,” together with his fondness for Britain and its people. The future emperor got a chance to experience life outside the palace walls, including doing his own ironing, going to the bank and taking part in pub crawls.

Tuesday’s ceremonial welcome seemed warm. Charles and Naruhito, who have known each other for years, settled into the back of a carriage and chatted like old chums.

Masako wore a mask in her carriage because of a horse hair allergy.

Both countries look to each other as a source of stability and mutual reassurance at a time of potentially destabilizing global political change.

“We’ve had a long history of engagement,’’ said John Nilsson-Wright, the head of the Japan and Koreas program at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge. “But ... this current visit (is) a reflection of both the personal ties of affection between the two royal families (and) perhaps most importantly of all, the geopolitical significance of the relationship.”

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PM Modi's historic US trip: All you need to know about ‘state visit’

The june 20-24 visit will be modi's sixth to the united states as india's pm, but his first official state visit to the country..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for his historic state visit to the United States. This will be his sixth US visit since coming to power in May 2014, but his first official state visit to the country. The trip will commence on June 20 and conclude on June 24, after which the prime minister will leave for another maiden state visit, to Egypt.

Also Read | Modi leaves for historic US visit: ‘Together we stand stronger’

What is a state visit.

It is a formal visit by a head of state to a foreign country, at the invitation of the head of state of that foreign country. When a leader undertakes a state visit, the head of state of the destination country acts as the former's official host throughout the duration of the trip.

Such a visit always includes a state reception by the host for the guest. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, too, will host PM Modi for a state dinner.

Also, a state visit is usually reserved only for ‘closest friends and allies.’ It, therefore, signifies the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between two sovereign nations.

How is a state visit different from an official visit?

The latter involves much less pomp and show than the former. An official visit, also sometimes known as official working visit or working visit, may include an official dinner, which, however, is nowhere near as glittering as a state dinner.

Also, a state visit is usually undertaken by a head of state, and not the head of government. Modi's trip, therefore, is significant as the President is the head of state in India, and the prime minister, the head of government. The US President is both the head of state and government.

Indian leaders and state visits to the US

Before Modi, only 2 Indian leaders have been hosted by the United States as an official state guest: President S Radhakrishnan in June 1963, and PM Manmohan Singh in November 2009.

Also Read | Modi in USA: 5 things to know about PM's upcoming state visit

Overall, as many as 9 Indian PMs have undertaken visits to the US: Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (4 trips each), Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi (3 each), PV Narasimha Rao (2), and Morarji Desai and IK Gujral (1 each). Singh, on the other hand, went there 8 times as India's premier.

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FACT SHEET: President   Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families   Together

Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system. As Congressional Republicans have continued to put partisan politics ahead of national security – twice voting against the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades – the President and his Administration have taken actions to secure the border, including:

• Implementing executive actions to bar migrants who cross our Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum when encounters are high;
• Deploying record numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the Southern border;
• Seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry;
• Revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the U.S. who profit from migrants coming to the U.S. unlawfully; and
• Expanding efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.

President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen our lawful immigration system. In addition to vigorously defending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals) policy, the Administration has extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients and streamlined, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.  Still, there is more that we can do to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families as well as young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That is why today, President Biden announced new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy.   Keeping American Families Together

• Today, President Biden is announcing that the Department of Homeland Security will take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.
• This new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country.
• These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together.
• In order to be eligible, noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements. On average, those who are eligible for this process have resided in the U.S. for 23 years.
• Those who are approved after DHS’s case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible.  
• This action will protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.

Easing the Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates, Including Dreamers

• President Obama and then-Vice President Biden established the DACA policy to allow young people who were brought here as children to come out of the shadows and contribute to our country in significant ways. Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.
• Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas.
• Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the U.S. are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers. 

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Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh Wears One of Kate Middleton's Favorite Tiaras to State Banquet

The Duchess of Edinburgh is shimmering in a delicate headtopper most recently seen on the Princess of Wales

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world's most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is sparkling in one of Kate Middleton 's top tiaras at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace .

On June 25, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, shimmered in the Lotus Flower Tiara at the diplomatic dinner held in honor of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan's state visit to the U.K. The style choice was significant as Sophie's first time wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara, expanding her royal rotation.

Prince Edward 's wife has previously glittered in two aquamarine tiaras and her all-diamond wedding tiara , made up of four detachable diamond anthemions which were reportedly sourced from one of Queen Victoria’s crowns.

Sophie completed her look at the latest state banquet with even more diamonds, sporting Queen Elizabeth 's Pear-Shaped Diamond Drop Suite. Sophie has worn the necklace and earrings combo before for the state banquet held in honor of then-president Donald Trump 's state visit to the U.K. in June 2019, according to The Court Jeweller . 

The Lotus Flower Tiara was most recently taken out of the royal vault for Princess Kate to wear at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2022.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Kate, 42, has sported four different tiaras since marrying Prince William in 2011, and the Lotus Flower Tiara was the second (after the Cartier Halo Tiara that she wore for her walk down the aisle to top off her bridal look). She made her debut in the Lotus Flower Tiara in December 2013 for the diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace and wore it again for her  first official state banquet in 2015 , welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan.

However, the Princess of Wales did not attend the state banquet on June 25 as she remained outside of the spotlight while undergoing chemotherapy . Palace aides emphasized that her appearance at Trooping the Colour on June 15 didn't signal a return to royal duties as she continues cancer treatment.

State visits are an important part of the British royal family’s diplomatic duties, organized to strengthen relationships with other nations around the world. Visiting heads of state are officially hosted by the sovereign, and the busy itinerary includes meetings with government ministers and other organizations. 

The first day of the stay is usually capped with a state banquet, which the royal family's website describes as "a very grand formal occasion" held in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace. Around 150 guests are invited in light of their cultural, diplomatic or economic ties to the country being hosted, and the monarch makes a speech and offers a toast to the visiting head of state, who reciprocates the gesture. 

 KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty

The glam banquets call for a coordinating dress code, and Queen Camilla glittered in the Ruby Burmese Tiara (which she's worn before) on June 25.

The striking ruby and diamond headpiece that previously belonged to Queen Elizabeth might have been a nod to the hues of the red and white Japanese flag. Women in the royal family often pay homage to countries they are visiting by dressing in national colors .

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP via Getty

The Emperor and Empress of Japan arrived in England on June 22 for a series of private engagements before the state visit officially kicked off on June 25, when Prince William greeted the couple at their London hotel on behalf of King Charles. The King and Queen then greeted Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako for the traditional ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade, and the visit continues tomorrow with an engagement for Prince Edward and Sophie.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will join the Emperor and Empress for a banquet at the Guildhall on June 26, organized by the Lord Mayor and City of London Corporation. Edward and Sophie are among the working royals who have continued with a full schedule amid King Charles and Princess Kate's reduced duties when their cancer diagnoses were announced.

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PM Modi US visit: Here’s how state visit is different from an official visit

Prime minister narendra modi’s us visit marks his sixth trip to the country since coming to power in may 2014, but this is his first state visit. a state visit is a formal visit by a head of state of a country to another country at the invitation of the leader of the host nation..

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Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia to offset Moscow’s growing isolation

Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted by Vietnamese President To Lam as he received a welcoming ceremony at Hanoi’s Presidential Palace on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Hanoi on Thursday for a state visit to the Southeast Asian nation. Putin’s visit to Vietnam is taking place at a time when Moscow is facing growing international isolation because of its offensive in Ukraine. (AP video shot by: Hau Dinh)

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam early on Thursday. During the state visit Putin is scheduled to meet with Vietnam’s most powerful politician, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and new President To Lam, as the Russian leader seeks to strengthen ties with a longtime partner. (AP video shot by: Hau Dinh)

Russian President Vladimir Putin laid wreaths and paid his respects at two monuments in Hanoi on Thursday as part of his state visit to the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Vietnamese President To Lam embrace during an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, in Hanoi, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Vietnam’s President To Lam pose for photos at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Nhac Nguyen/Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong during a meeting at the Communist Party Central Committee headquarters, in Hanoi, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left, shakes hands with Vietnamese officials upon his arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Nikita Orlov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnamese President To Lam, left on red carpet, and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, right on red carpet, review the guard of honor at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, seventh left, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, seventh right, attend the talks at the Communist Party Central Committee headquarters, in Hanoi, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, listens to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, not pictured, during a meeting at the government office in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Luoung Thai Linh/Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, right, speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, not pictured, during a meeting at the government office in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Luoung Thai Linh/Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnamese President To Lam, right, and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin review the guard of honor at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang)

Vietnamese President To Lam, center left, and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, center right, review the guard of honor at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang)

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin lays a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum during his visit to Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Athit Perawongmetha/Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, background left, and Vietnamese President To Lam, background right, both are on a podium, attend an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, in Hanoi, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, front left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, front right, talk as they walk into the government office in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Luoung Thai Linh/Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, front left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, front center, look at photos displayed at the government office in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Luoung Thai Linh/Pool Photo via AP)

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, and Vietnam’s President To Lam attend an event attended by the Vietnam Friendship Association and generations of Vietnamese alumni that studied in Russia at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi, Thursday June 20, 2024. (Manan Vatsyayana, Pool Photo via AP)

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen deals with his Vietnamese counterpart on Thursday and offered to supply fossil fuels, including natural gas, to Vietnam during a state visit that comes as Moscow is seeking to bolster ties in Asia to offset its growing international isolation over its war in Ukraine .

Putin and President To Lam agreed to further cooperate in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and clean energy. The two countries also agreed to work on a roadmap for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam.

Of the 12 publicly announced agreements, none overtly pertained to defense but Lam said there were other deals that were not made public.

Putin said the two countries share an interest in “developing a reliable security architecture” in the Asia-Pacific region with no room for “closed military-political blocs.” Lam added that both Russia and Vietnam wanted to “further cooperate in defense and security to cope with non-traditional security challenges.”

The agreements between Russia and Vietnam were not as substantial as the pact Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Wednesday, which pledged mutual aid in the event of invasion, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and a former British ambassador to Belarus.

Putin’s recent visits to China and now North Korea and Vietnam are attempts to “break the international isolation,” said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

AP AUDIO: Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia to offset Moscow’s growing isolation

AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vietnam.

Giang said Russia is important to Vietnam for two reasons: It is the biggest supplier of military equipment to the Southeast Asian nation, and Russian oil exploration technologies help maintain Vietnam’s sovereignty claims in the contested South China Sea.

Vietnam also has licensed Russian state-controlled oil company Zarubezhneft to develop an offshore block of its southeastern coast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, June. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang)

On the South China Sea, Lam said that both sides would “support and ensure security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation” and the resolution of disputes peacefully and in accordance to international law without the use of force, according to official Vietnamese media.

Putin arrived in Hanoi on Thursday morning from North Korea after signing the strategic pact , which comes as both countries face escalating standoffs with the West and could mark their strongest connection since the end of the Cold War.

In Hanoi, Putin also met Vietnam’s most powerful politician, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to the official Vietnam News Agency.

Putin drove to Vietnam’s Presidential Palace on Thursday afternoon, where he was greeted by school children waving Russian and Vietnamese flags.

Much has changed since Putin’s last visit to Vietnam in 2017. Russia now faces a raft of U.S.-led sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, the International Criminal Court in Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes, making it difficult for the Russian leader to travel internationally. The Kremlin rejected the warrant as “null and void,” stressing that Moscow doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction.

Putin’s trip resulted in a sharp rebuke from the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, which said that “no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities.” If Putin is allowed to travel freely it “could normalize Russia’s blatant violations of international law,” it said in a statement.

The U.S. and its allies have expressed growing concerns over a possible arms arrangement in which North Korea provides Russia with badly needed munitions for use in Ukraine in exchange for Russian economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Both countries deny accusations of weapons transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions that Russia previously endorsed.

It is unlikely that Vietnam would supply significant quantities of weapons to Russia and risk the progress that it has made with NATO members on military equipment, particularly the U.S., said Ridzwan Rahmat, a Singapore-based analyst with the defense intelligence company Janes.

“I would imagine Vietnam wouldn’t want to take a risk, inviting the wrath of Western countries by supplying the Russians,” Rahmat said.

Hanoi and Moscow have had diplomatic relations since 1950, and this year marks 30 years of a treaty establishing “friendly relations” between Vietnam and Russia. Prashanth Parameswaran, a fellow with the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, said Vietnam is “reinforcing” that relationship even while it diversifies with newer partners.

Evidence of the long relationship and its influence can be seen in Vietnamese cities like the capital, where many Soviet-style apartment blocks are now dwarfed by skyscrapers. A statue of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union , stands in a park where kids skateboard every evening. Many in the Communist Party’s top leadership in Vietnam studied in Soviet universities, including party chief Trong.

In an article written for Nhan Dan, the official newspaper of Vietnam’s Communist Party, Putin thanked “Vietnamese friends for their balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis” and hailed the country as a “strong supporter of a fair world order” based on international law, equality and geopolitical non-interference.

Vietnam’s pragmatic policy of “bamboo diplomacy” — a phrase coined by Trong referring to the plant’s flexibility, bending but not breaking in the shifting headwinds of global geopolitics — is being increasingly tested.

A manufacturing powerhouse and an increasingly important player in global supply chains, Vietnam hosted both U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2023.

Putin’s visit is important for Hanoi on a diplomatic level, said Gould-Davies, the former ambassador.

“Perhaps for Vietnam it’s a matter of just showing that it’s able to maintain this very agile balance of its bamboo diplomacy,” he said. “Already in the course of a year they’ve hosted visits by the heads of state of the three most powerful countries in the world, which is pretty impressive.”

For Russia, the visit seems to have been more about optics than anything else, he said, as Moscow seeks to engage and influence other countries, particularly in the so-called Global South.

“Since the war began, Putin has not been able to travel much or very far, and he’s made very few trips beyond the countries of the former Soviet space,” he said.

Vietnam has remained neutral on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But neutrality is getting trickier,

Vietnam needs support from the U.S. to advance its economic ambitions and diversify its defense ties, Parameswaran said. “It has to carefully calibrate what it does with Russia in an environment of rising tensions between Washington and Moscow.”

Bilateral trade between Russia and Vietnam totaled $3.6 billion in 2023, compared to $171 billion with China and $111 billion with America.

Since the early 2000s, Russia has accounted for around 80% of Vietnam’s arms imports. This has been declining over the years due to Vietnamese attempts to diversify its supplies. But to entirely wean itself off Russia will take time, Giang said.

Given Putin’s international isolation, Vietnam is doing the Russian leader a “huge favor and may expect favors in return,” Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian ambassador to Vietnam, wrote on social media platform X.

“Vietnam will always act in Vietnam’s interests and not anyone else’s,” he wrote.

AP writer David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.

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Computer Science > Computation and Language

Title: ladder: a model-agnostic framework boosting llm-based machine translation to the next level.

Abstract: General-purpose Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 have achieved remarkable advancements in machine translation (MT) by leveraging extensive web content. On the other hand, translation-specific LLMs are built by pre-training on domain-specific monolingual corpora and fine-tuning with human-annotated translation data. Despite the superior performance, these methods either demand an unprecedented scale of computing and data or substantial human editing and annotation efforts. In this paper, we develop Ladder, a novel model-agnostic and cost-effective tool to refine the performance of general LLMs for MT. Ladder is trained on pseudo-refinement triplets which can be easily obtained from existing LLMs without additional human cost. During training, we propose a hierarchical fine-tuning strategy with an easy-to-hard schema, improving Ladder's refining performance progressively. The trained Ladder can be seamlessly integrated with any general-purpose LLMs to boost their translation performance. By utilizing Gemma-2B/7B as the backbone, Ladder-2B can elevate raw translations to the level of top-tier open-source models (e.g., refining BigTranslate-13B with +6.91 BLEU and +3.52 COMET for XX-En), and Ladder-7B can further enhance model performance to be on par with the state-of-the-art GPT-4. Extensive ablation and analysis corroborate the effectiveness of Ladder in diverse settings. Our code is available at this https URL

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