74 years of Vietnam-China diplomacy marked in Beijing

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai highlighted the historical significance of diplomatic ties between both sides and reviewed the tremendous achievements recorded in bilateral co-operation over the years.

"Over the past 74 years, the friendly relationship of "both comrades and brothers" was personally built by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong and diligently nurtured by many generations of leaders of the two countries has become a valuable asset of both nations.

With the flow of time, the people of the two countries have stood side by side, giving each other great and valuable support and assistance, contributing to the success of the revolutionary cause of national liberation and the national construction and development of each country,” Ambassador Mai said.

Despite facing complex and unpredictable fluctuations in terms of the world and regional situation, with close attention and direction given by high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, along with the joint efforts of all levels, sectors, and people of both sides, the joint comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership has seen stable, effective, and comprehensive developments in recent times.

Most notably, during the recent visit to Vietnam, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held in-depth discussions and reached an important common perception in continuing to deepen and elevate the joint comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership, thereby building a community of shared future, for the happiness of the two peoples, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

Last year's two-way trade turnover between both sides reached US$171.9 billion, according to data compiled by Vietnamese customs, and US$229.8 billion, according to Chinese customs.

China remains the country’s largest trading partner and second largest export market, while the nation is the northern neighbour’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and its fifth largest partner in the world.

Regarding investment, this year has seen China pour US$4.47 billion into the Vietnamese market, an increase of 77.5% to rank fourth among countries and territories investing in the nation, thereby taking the lead in the number of new projects, accounting for 22.17%.

Ambassador Mai emphasized that the past 74 years of practice have proven that the stable and healthy development of mutual relations is extremely important to the development of each country, particularly as it makes a positive contribution to the development of each sides for peace, co-operation, and development in the region and the wider world.

The Party, State, and people of Vietnam consistently attach importance to consolidating and strengthening friendly relations and collaboration with the Party, State, and people of China, considering the development of relations as a top priority and strategic choice in the nation’s foreign policy, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

The two sides therefore need to continue to promote high-level exchanges and exchanges at all levels, fully and effectively implement the common awareness between the two Parties and two countries; enhance political trust, strengthen exchanges, and boost co-operation in a multitude of fields; and expand and improve the effectiveness of economic ties in trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

This should be done along with competently controlling and handling disagreements on the basis of respecting each other's legitimate interests, in accordance with international law. This will therefore contribute to maintaining peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region, thereby helping the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between both sides to continuously develop stably and sustainably, thereby bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, he added.