Top Chinese leader’s Vietnam visit hoped to promote bilateral relations to new heights: Scholar
Shi believes that through this visit, the high-ranking leaders of the two countries, from a high-level and long-term strategic vision, will set out new directions for the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between China and Vietnam.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam (left) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping. (Photo: VNA)
Beijing (VNA)♍ – The state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping from April 14-15 once again demonstrates China's strong commitment to promoting the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future, as well as their valuable traditional friendship described as “both comrades and brothers", said Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC).
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondent in Beijing ahead the visit, Shi said that China and Vietnam are good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners. The two countries share geographic proximity with mountains and rivers connected. In recent years, high-ranking leaders of the two countries have maintained regular exchanges.
The top Chinese leader's visit to Vietnam is an important follow-up to his historic visit in December 2023, and the visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in August 2024.
Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC). (Photo: VNA)
This year marks the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam and is designated as the Year of Vietnam - China Humanistic Exchange, as well as the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the final year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan.
Currently, China is comprehensively promoting the great national rejuvenation process through Chinese-style modernisation, while Vietnam is also accelerating its industrialisation and modernisation process.
The building of socialism in both China and Vietnam is at a crucial stage. Under the strategic planning and direct promotion by high-level leaders of both Parties and countries, the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Vietnam has achieved significant results, with many notable features. The close coordination and multilateral cooperation not only benefit the two Parties, two countries, and their people, but also bring stability and certainty to a world full of fluctuations and uncertainties.
Shi believes that through this visit, the high-ranking leaders of the two countries, from a high-level and long-term strategic vision, will set out new directions for the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between China and Vietnam; strengthen the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, enhance mutual strategic trust, and focus on key areas and directions to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance; promote the relationship between the two Parties and two countries to new heights, and together advance stability and prosperity of the region as well as peace, development and progress of humanity.
Regarding the prospects for the two countries’ cooperation in the coming time, Shi noted that in recent years, economic and trade cooperation between China and Vietnam has continued to reach new heights. China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner since 2004, and Vietnam has been China's largest trading partner in ASEAN since 2016.
The bilateral trade volume has exceeded 200 billion USD for four consecutive years. According to Chinese Customs data, in 2024, two-way trade reached 260.65 billion USD, an increase of 13.5% compared to the same period last year. Of this, China's exports amounted to 161.89 billion USD, up 17.7% year-on-year; imports reached 98.76 billion USD, up 7.2% year-on-year. China is the largest export market for Vietnamese agricultural products, accounting for 65.2% of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable exports. Vietnam has established official export channels for 14 key agricultural products to the Chinese market, including durian, bird's nest, sweet potatoes, dragon fruit, lychee, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, and bananas. These products account for about one-fifth of China's total agricultural imports from ASEAN. High-quality agricultural products from Vietnam are widely favoured by Chinese consumers. Vietnam is also an important destination for Chinese foreign investment. In 2024, direct investment from Chinese enterprises in Vietnam exceeded 2.5 billion USD, maintaining a rapid growth rate.
Shi said that China and Vietnam each have unique advantages for economic development, complementing each other strongly and having great potential for economic and trade cooperation. With the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and the upgrade of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), economic and trade cooperation between the two countries will have many more development opportunities.
The scholar said that in the future, the two countries need to further strengthen the strategic development connection, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to expand bilateral trade and investment, actively build pilot cross-border economic cooperation zones, and jointly establish safe and stable industrial and supply chains, while further enhancing the level of trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation.
Both sides should continue to effectively implement the "Belt and Road" initiative and the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework, strengthen policy coordination, and innovate cooperation models. In addition to accelerating "hard connectivity" in infrastructure such as railways, highways, and border facilities, both sides should also enhance "soft connectivity" like smart customs; promote the integrated development of cross-border e-commerce and traditional domestic industries; strengthen cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, online tourism, smart cities, and artificial intelligence (AI); and further explore cooperation potential in digital economy. Moreover, Vietnam has developed a national green growth strategy. By incorporating regulations and cooperative content related to green economy in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, the scope and prospects for cooperation between China and Vietnam in fields like clean energy, new energy-fueled vehicles, environmental governance, green transition, and green finance are also very promising.
Regarding cultural exchanges, Shi noted that both sides need to seize the opportunity of the Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange and the ASEAN – China Cultural Exchange Year to continuously strengthen the friendship between the people of the two countries. They should actively explore deeper educational cooperation, expand international student exchanges; promote cooperation in vocational education, education-industry integration, teacher training and development, and digital education; enhance cultural exchanges, improve cultural understanding through joint art performances, exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage, and joint broadcasting of films and television works; expand tourism cooperation, encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Vietnam, and support increasing flights between the two countries; optimise cross-border tourism routes, promote distinctive tourism products to each other, and attract two-way tourist flows; and enhance youth exchanges to strengthen understanding and friendship between young generations through various youth dialogue and exchange activities, while promoting the inheritance of the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam./.
This is Xi's first overseas visit in 2025, his fourth visit to Vietnam as China's top leader, and the second within his current term. It demonstrates the high regard that the Chinese Party and State, as well as the leader personally, place on strengthening the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China.
Top Chinese leader Xi Jinping's Southeast Asia tour, his first overseas trip of the year, holds major significance for fostering the comprehensive development of China’s relations with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, as well as with ASEAN as a whole.
The new air routes play a key role in strengthening connectivity between Vietnam and China, especially as 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, and the Year of China-Vietnam Humanistic Exchange. They represent an important step forward in fostering aviation cooperation between the two countries, while also providing favourable opportunities for tourism development, trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges between their cities.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
