The visit is made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang.
Expanding Vietnam-China relations. Photo for illustration
It is taking place at a time when Vietnam and China have enjoyed further development in bilateral relations.
Over the past time, leaders of the two countries had regular meetings. During visits to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (January 2017), President Tran Dai Quang (May 2017) and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (September 2016), Vietnamese and Chinese top leaders agreed to further promote their cooperation, particularly in delegation exchanges, trade, investment, and tourism.
Meanwhile, the visit marks President Xi Jinping’s first overseas trip after the 19th National Congress of the CPC, showing that both the Chinese Party, State and President Xi Jinping himself attach great importance to the relationship with Vietnam and that they want to bring the bilateral ties to a new pinnacle.
Notably, Vietnamese Party, State and people share the same thought with the Chinese. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that Vietnam always places importance to the ties with China and sincerely wishes to develop the sustainable friendship and win-win comprehensive cooperation with China for the sake of the two peoples as well as peace, and prosperity in the region and the world. Vietnam also wants to develop the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and strategic comprehensive partnership, and hopes that the two sides strictly implement important common outcomes reached by leaders of the two Parties and States and other agreements as well.
China remains Vietnam’s biggest trade partner and largest tourism market, while Vietnam is China’s biggest partner in ASEAN. Two-way trade increased from a value of USD 32 million in 1991 to USD 70.5 billion in 2016.
Vietnam and China have jointly boosted the construction of projects within frameworks of the "Belt and Road" initiative and the "Two Corridors, One Circle" development plan. At the ninth Meeting of Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in June 2016, both sides agreed that they should continue to expand and deepen cooperation, and calmly address existing difficulties.
Looking back upon the past 67 years of the bilateral diplomatic ties, the friendship and cooperation relations between Vietnam and China have been cultivated constantly. In spite of their dispute in the East Sea (South China Sea), we believe that this issue will be gradually solved by peaceful means in compliance with international law and with mutual understanding and with respect for each other.
The State visit to Vietnam by Chinese President Xi Jinping is an important event for Vietnam-China ties in particular and Vietnam’s external relations in general. With sound desires and willingness from both sides, the visit will considerably strengthen relations between the two Parties and States, boost strategic exchanges, enhance political trust, and promote bilateral cooperation in fields of economy, trade, and investment.
Additionally, the visit will also consolidate the bilateral friendship as well as offer an opportunity to continue to deal with issues of mutual concern, effectively contributing to maintaining peace and stability for Vietnam’s national construction and defense cause.
We believe that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam will be successful in order to continuously promote the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and cooperation for the sake of both peoples.
Written by Editorial Board
Translated by Van Hieu