Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto (left) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My welcome the delegation at the airport. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

Welcoming the delegation at the airport were Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Rodríguez Gelfenstein, General Jonás Gerardo Páez Cabrera, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Venezuelan Ministry of Defense, along with numerous leaders from various Venezuelan ministries and sectors.

Representing the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela were Ambassador Vu Trung My, Defense Attaché Vu The Trung, and staff from the Vietnamese Representative Mission in Venezuela.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto expressed: “From the bottom of our hearts, we extend our sincerest gratitude to Vietnam. On behalf of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), the Government, and the people of Venezuela, I convey our heartfelt and profound thanks to the Party, State, Government, and the brotherly people of Vietnam, especially to General Secretary, President To Lam.”

Minister Yvan Gil Pinto shakes hands with Major General Pham Van Ty, head of the Vietnamese delegation. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

Minister Yvan Gil Pinto affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese armed forces participating in rescue operations and earthquake aftermath recovery in Venezuela is a vivid testament to the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Venezuela.

Speaking to the press, Major General Pham Van Ty, head of the Vietnamese delegation, emphasized that the Vietnamese forces will engage in rescue operations with the highest responsibility and with the spirit of “saving the Venezuelan people as if saving our own Vietnamese compatriots.”

Visiting the Vietnamese delegation shortly after they settled in to commence their mission, Venezuelan Minister of Defense, General Gustavo Lopez, expressed deep gratitude for the gesture of the Vietnamese armed forces. He is confident that the friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries, and particularly between their militaries, will continue to be strengthened and developed.

Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto welcomes the officers and soldiers in the Vietnamese rescue team. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

On the same day, speaking to local media, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez expressed gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for their solidarity and support for Venezuela during this challenging time, following two consecutive earthquakes that caused severe damage in the capital Caracas and La Guaira state.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez affirmed, “The government and people of Venezuela highly appreciate Vietnam's dispatch of a team of 124 rescue personnel, significantly enhancing search, rescue, and support activities.”

The Vietnamese rescue team takes a photo at Maiquetia International Airport, La Guaira state, Venezuela. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

As of now, Vietnam is one of 30 countries that have sent rescue teams to Venezuela to carry out rescue operations. This information was announced by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez during the launch of the General Staff for reconstruction and temporary housing construction efforts to mitigate the aftermath of the earthquake disaster in Venezuela.

“I want to announce that we are continuing rescue operations for survivors; this brings immense emotion and great hope, hope for the families of the victims, for the people as they witness the tireless efforts of the Venezuelan rescue forces and international rescue teams,” the leader stated.

Below are some of the first images of the rescue team in Venezuela: