Speaking through an interpreter, Luong immediately shared his impressions of "beautiful Namibia" and remembered how Vietnamese and Namibians fought for their independence.

He said his first visit to Namibia and Africa was mainly to thank "friends in Africa" for standing behind his people and cement the existing good relations.

Accompanied by, among others, First Lady Nguyen Thi Vinh, Agriculture Minister Le Huy Ngo, Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen and Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, Luong was entertained to a State banquet last night and will today lay a wreath at Heroes' Acre on the outskirts of Windhoek.

A business delegation, led by Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc, will hold talks with their Namibian counterparts today while visits to Meatco and NamCot Diamonds have also been lined up.

President Sam Nujoma visited Vietnam for three days in July when the two leaders signed an agreement on economic, commercial, cultural, and scientific and technological co-operation.

The two countries also agreed to set up diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level and ministers were urged to exchange visits to explore opportunities to promote bilateral co-operation in trade, education and training.

Luong, a geologist by profession who was elected for a second five-year term this year, also offered to send Vietnamese rice experts to Namibia.

He has published a set of geographical maps of Vietnam since he graduated from the Vietnam University of Mining and Geology in 1969.

Luong joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1959. After graduating from the Nguyen Ai Quoc National Institute of Politics, he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He is a permanent member of the Politburo. He was first elected President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1997.

President Luong speaks Russian, English and French. He is married and has three children and four grandchildren.

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