Regarding some key results in the two countries’ cooperation in recent years, Deputy PM, FM Bui Thanh Son said that Vietnam and China are close neighbors, with a time-honored tradition of friendship between their people. Since the establishment of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008, particularly after recent mutual visits between the two countries' top leaders, bilateral ties have developed comprehensively and robustly across multiple areas.
    |
 |
|
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son |
The Deputy PM underlined that political trust has been strengthened through frequent high-level visits and contacts, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Following the official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and Xi's third state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, both sides agreed to deepen and elevate their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and jointly build a “Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance,” based on six major orientations, marking a new development phase in bilateral relations.
During the state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in August 2024, the top leaders of the two parties and countries reaffirmed that developing bilateral relations remains a top priority and a strategic choice in Vietnam's foreign policy and China's neighborhood diplomacy. They agreed to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and promote the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, thereby injecting new momentum into the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and fostering vibrant, practical cooperation across all fields.
Multilaterally, the two countries have enhanced coordination within international and regional mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Most recently, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the eighth GMS Summit in China in November 2024, where leaders from Vietnam, China, and other member countries affirmed their solidarity and friendship and pledged to realize a shared aspiration and vision for regional peace and prosperity through joint efforts, common voices and unified actions.
Meanwhile, cooperation and exchanges through Party, parliament, and fatherland front channels and collaboration among ministries, departments and localities have continued to expand, particularly among those responsible for foreign affairs, national defense, and public security, and among border localities. These exchanges have contributed to developing numerous practical and effective mechanisms and joint cooperation programs.
According to Son, economic, trade, investment, and infrastructure connectivity cooperation has made strong strides. In 2024, bilateral trade reached new heights, exceeding USD 200 billion according to Vietnamese statistics, and USD 260 billion according to Chinese figures. Vietnam remains China’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and its fourth-largest trading partner globally. In the first three months of this year, the figure hit USD 51.25 billion, a year-on-year increase of 17.46%. China has become the largest market for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, bringing practical benefits to millions of Vietnamese farmers.
In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), China is currently Vietnam’s sixth-largest investor with total registered capital of USD 31.26 billion. The two sides have reached a consensus on orientations to deal with several key projects facing obstacles. Infrastructure connectivity, particularly in railways, has seen important progress.
Notably, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - 2025), in January 2025, To Lam and Xi Jinping held an important phone talk, officially launching the "Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange," creating a momentum to boost people-to-people, cultural, and tourism exchanges, which have already been vibrant and diverse.
Both sides have effectively managed and satisfactorily addressed differences and maintained peace and stability in the East Sea (South China Sea internationally). On the basis of the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues signed in 2011, the mechanism of Vietnam-China governmental-level negotiation on border and territory, and various mechanisms for dialogue and negotiation on sea-related matters, both sides have maintained regular exchanges and sped up the timely settlement of emerging issues, properly managed differences, and achieved positive results, particularly in cooperation in less sensitive areas at sea, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.
Sharing the significance and expectations of Xi’s upcoming state visit to Vietnam, Deputy PM, FM Bui Thanh Son said that taking place less than a year after the state visit to China by Party General Secretary To Lam, the Chinese top leader’s upcoming state visit to Vietnam is an important diplomatic and political event that holds strategic significance for both parties and nations, exerting long-term influence on the development of Vietnam-China relations as the two countries enter a new era of development.
The Vietnamese government leader stressed that this marks Xi Jinping’s fourth visit to Vietnam in his capacity as China’s top Party and State leader, and his second visit during the current terms of the 13th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Notably, it also coincides with the “Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange” and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations (1950-2025).
Son said that Vietnamese Party and State leaders have expressed strong anticipation and high expectations for a successful visit, with four key goals. Firsty, to strengthen high-level strategic exchanges, particularly regular contact between the top leaders of the two parties and countries, thus reinforcing the foundation of political trust, enabling the sharing of experience in national governance and development, and providing guidance for the stable and healthy growth of bilateral relations amid the complicated regional and global situation.
Secondly, to identify key areas and directions for bilateral cooperation, while enhancing the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of practical collaboration. The visit aims to foster “high-standard cooperation highlights” in the fields where Vietnam has demand and China has strengths, such as standard-gauge railways, agricultural trade, science and technology, education and training, digital economy, and green economy, meeting the aspirations and interests of the people of both countries. Some 40 cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies, and localities are expected to be signed during the visit, laying a strong basis for more effective future collaboration.
Thirdly, to extent the positive momentum of the visit throughout all levels, sectors, and communities in both countries. This includes effective implementation of the Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange 2025, promoting exchanges among mass organizations and socio-political organizations, and expanding local-level partnerships. These efforts aim to promote mutual understanding and trust, traditional friendship, and consolidate public support for bilateral relationship.
Fourthly, through exchanges in a spirit of frankness, sincerity, and mutual understanding, both sides will put themselves in each other’s position to properly address border and territory-related issues, better manage and resolve maritime disagreements in line with high-level common perceptions, ensuring that sea-related issues do not hinder the healthy development of relations between the two parties and the countries and contribute to maintaining regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
The state visit is just a few days away. Son firmly believed that, with the great importance attached to it, the close coordination and thorough preparations by both sides, Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visit to Vietnam will be a success in all aspects, marking a new milestone in the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Translated by Chung Anh