New momentum for the sustainable development of Vietnam-China relations
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.
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.
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
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
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
- Story: VNA/VNP
- Photos: VNA