The visit takes place following the state visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam in August 2024 and the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in April 2025; and as both countries have designated 2026 as the “Vietnam - China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026 - 2027.”
This visit continues the series of historic exchanges between senior leaders of the two parties and two countries, reaffirming the strong determination of both sides to bring bilateral relations into a new phase of development that is more solid, stable, and sustainable.
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The visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam from April 14 to 17 is believed to be a great success, marking a new milestone in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China. |
The common perceptions reached by the two countries’ senior leaders during this visit will provide profound strategic guidance for the future trajectory of Party-to-Party and state-to-state relations, further elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China and the Vietnam - China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
The visit takes place amidst increasingly favorable developments in bilateral relations, with notable and relatively comprehensive progress. Political trust continues to be strengthened, while many new cooperation mechanisms have been established, consolidated, and upgraded, creating a firm framework for bilateral ties. The top leaders of the two parties held important phone talks in late January 2026. In addition, the two sides successfully organized the 17th meeting of the Vietnam - China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Notably, the successful organization of the first ministerial-level “3+3” Strategic Dialogue on foreign affairs, national defense and public security between Vietnam and China in March 2026 marked a new step forward in strategic trust and coordination.
In recent years, defense and security cooperation has become more substantive. Economic, trade, investment, tourism, and infrastructure connectivity cooperation has grown strongly, with new breakthroughs, especially in railway connectivity. Local-level cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have been vibrant. Multilateral coordination has become increasingly close. China has clearly demonstrated its highest regard for relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy.
This is the first overseas visit by General Secretary and President To Lam after Vietnam consolidated its state leadership positions at the first session of the 16th National Assembly; and his first visit to China following the 14th National Party Congress. This affirms the consistent foreign policy set forth by the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo’s Resolution No.34-NQ/TW on independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of foreign relations with top priority given to the country’s relations with China; and working alongside China on the path of building socialism, deepening strategic alignment, and achieving sustainable development together.
In the context that the international and regional landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with rising instability and uncertainty, and the Asia-Pacific region continues to be a focal point of major-power competition, this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam holds special importance. It opens up numerous opportunities for substantive and effective cooperation, unlocking the potential of Vietnam - China collaboration, and promoting the continued stable, healthy, and sustainable development of relations between the two parties and two countries, for the benefit of both peoples and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
With a wide range of meaningful and practical activities planned, the outcomes of the visit are expected to further solidify the social foundation of Vietnam - China relations in line with the “six major orientations,” while creating important conditions to translate high-level common perceptions into concrete cooperation projects and programs. These efforts will bring tangible benefits to the development of each country and to bilateral relations.
The visit by General Secretary and President To Lam is believed to be a great success, marking a new milestone in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China.
By the Editorial Board of the People’s Army Newspaper
Translated by Mai Huong