The Vietnam-China relationship has experienced ups and downs over the past more than seven decades (January 18, 1950-2023), yet friendship and cooperation between the two countries have remained the mainstream. The friendship, fostered by generations of the two countries’ leaders, has been a valuable shared asset, helping maintain the sustainability of the relationship, and bring tangible benefits to the two country’s people.

The new milestone in the Vietnam-China relationship

The state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse on December 12 and 13 was an important event to both countries, which drew a lot of public attention. The visit was a success and because of it, the two sides have enhanced political trust and mutual understanding, significantly contributing to promoting the solidarity and traditional friendship, and strengthening and deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. 


Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping take a photo together. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

During Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s freshly-concluded visit, the two Party General Secretaries shared the view that 15 years since the two countries established the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008 and with the motto of "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking toward the future” and the spirit of "good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners", cooperation in various fields has made positive and comprehensive progress, and the relations between the two Parties and two countries have been expanded and deepened continuously.

The bilateral economic, trade and investment ties have been growing more intensively. China has remained Vietnam’s biggest trade partner for 20 consecutive years. Vietnam is now China’s largest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the fourth largest overall. The two-way trade jumped to nearly 180 billion US dollars last year from only 20 billion US dollars in 2008. Chinese investment in Vietnam has increased more than 10 times, from 2 billion US dollars in 2008 to 25 billion US dollars at present. In 2023, China has risen to the fourth place among the countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Prospects for new cooperation between the two countries

During the visit, the two sides found many important common perceptions. Their joint statement sets out specific, comprehensive orientations. A total of 36 cooperation documents were signed between ministries, agencies and localities of the two sides, covering collaboration via the Party channel, as well as in national defence-security, justice, economy, trade, investment, digital economy, green growth, agricultural export, and irrigation, and maritime cooperation, among other fields.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife, along with General Secretary, President of China Xi Jinping and his wife, take a photo together with friendly delegates and the young generation of Vietnam-China. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

People-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities have become helpful, with many practical results. The two sides have recorded many achievements in building the shared land border of peace, friendship and cooperation, contributing to socio-economic development of their border localities. They have also strived to maintain negotiations and strengthen cooperation, together with relevant parties, to manage differences in accordance with the provisions of international law, contributing to ensuring peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.


Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong invites General Secretary, President of China Xi Jinping to enjoy tea. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

Ngo Thi Man, the spouse of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and Phan Thi Thanh Tam, the spouse of President Vo Van Thuong, accompanied Professor Peng Liyuan, the wife of the General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, visit the Vietnamese Women's Museum. They also engaged with students from Hanoi National University (VNU).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and General Secretary, President of China Xi Jinping view significant images of the two countries' relations. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

The visit’s results show that Vietnam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice, and supports the strong development of a socialist China, making more important contributions to peace and progress of humankind. It also affirms the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of external relations./.

Exhibition Of Images Depicting The Vietnam-China Relationship

President Ho Chi Minh meets and talks with Chairman Mao Zedong on November 2, 1960, in Beijing, during his visit to China from November 2 to 4, 1960. Photo: VNA

President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai signing the Joint Declaration of Vietnam-China on July 8, 1955, in Beijing. Photo: VNA

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai at the opening session of the Geneva Conference on Indochina on May 8, 1954. Photo: VNA's Files

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong inviting General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to enjoy tea at the Stilt House in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex on November 13, 2017. Photo: VNA

President Vo Van Thuong meeting with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping during the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (Beijing, October 20, 2023). Photo: VNA

Chinese Premier Li Qiang welcoming and discussing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to China (Beijing, June 26, 2023). Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with the leadership of the People's Diplomacy of China and a delegation of Chinese friendship scholars (Beijing, June 28, 2023). Photo: VNA

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (R) held online talks with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji on March 27, 2023. Photo: VNA

Permanent Secretary of the Party Central Committee Truong Thi Mai visited the Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall in China's Southwestern city of Chongqing where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked (April 27, 2023). Photo: VNA

The first train from China arrived at Dong Dang station (Lang Son) on the morning of February 14, 1996, during the ceremony to restore the operation of the Vietnam-China railway at the Lang Son and Lao Cai border gates after a 17-year hiatus. Photo: VNA

Working discussion in 2021 between the Border Guard of Lao Cai Province (Vietnam) and the Border Management Team of Honghe, Yunnan Province (China), on July 22, 2021. Photo: VNA

Joint border patrols between the Border Guard forces of Vietnam and China contribute to strengthening solidarity, friendship, and the construction of a peaceful and cooperative border for mutual development. Photo: VNA

The first joint patrol in the northern Gulf area between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard - the first time in 2023 (April 11-13, 2023) is the 25th joint patrol between the two countries, from 2006 to the present. Photo: VNA

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and General Secretary, President of China, Xi Jinping attended the inauguration and handover ceremony of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace and the opening of the Chinese Cultural Center in Hanoi on November 12, 2017. Photo: VNA

State President Truong Tan Sang met with Chinese friends who had assisted Vietnam during the resistance war to protect the homeland and build the country (Beijing, June 20, 2013). Photo: VNA

President Tran Dai Quang meeting with Chinese intellectuals, scholars, and the Friendship Association of China-Vietnam (Beijing, May 12, 2017). Photo: VNA

 

Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh receiving the families of Chinese experts who helped Vietnam in the resistance war against France and the family of 'Dual National General' Nguyen Son (Hanoi, April 24, 2014). Photo: VNA

Young Vietnamese-Chinese delegates participating in the 'handprint' activity, expressing solidarity and friendship at the Youth Cultural Festival in Wenshan zhou, Yunnan Province, China, on June 13, 2004. Photo: VNA

• Story: VNA/VNP
• Photos: VNA