In this context, the upcoming state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam from April 14 to 17 is widely seen as a significant milestone expected to generate fresh impetus for bilateral ties.

The visit, to be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping, comes just one year after his state visit to Vietnam and marks the third high-level exchange between the two countries’ top leaders in less than two years.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu, the visit carries three major layers of significance, reflecting both the depth and evolving stature of bilateral relations.

First, he said, it signals the beginning of a new stage in Vietnam–China relations as both countries embark on important development trajectories. Vietnam is entering a new development era following the success of its 14th National Party Congress, while China has begun implementing its 15th five-year socio-economic development plan. Early high-level engagement in this context underscores the strong political will on both sides to further consolidate a relationship often described as “both comrades and brothers,” making it more stable, substantive and sustainable.

Second, the diplomat noted, the visit is expected to elevate strategic connectivity and set new directions for cooperation across a wide range of sectors. In addition to traditional pillars such as trade and investment, both sides are looking to expand collaboration in supply chains, manufacturing networks, science and technology, education and tourism that are seen as key drivers of long-term growth.

Third, the visit will play an important role in strengthening political trust, enhancing dialogue and addressing outstanding issues, while promoting people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation. These factors are considered essential to ensuring the long-term stability of bilateral ties and contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vu said these expectations are built on a solid foundation of progress achieved in recent years. Political trust has been steadily reinforced through frequent high-level exchanges conducted in flexible formats. Cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, legislative bodies, ministries and localities have been further institutionalised, providing strategic guidance for bilateral relations.

At the same time, cooperation in diplomacy, defence and security has seen tangible progress, including the establishment of new strategic dialogue mechanisms and enhanced coordination in joint patrols, training activities and law enforcement cooperation. A key highlight was the successful organisation of the first ministerial-level “3+3” strategic dialogue, bringing together the foreign, defence and public security ministries of both sides, which was held within the framework of the 17th meeting of the Vietnam–China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. These efforts have helped create a stable and predictable environment for bilateral engagement.

Economic and trade cooperation continues to stand out as a central pillar of the relationship. China has remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner for many years, while Vietnam is China’s top trading partner within ASEAN. Statistics show two-way trade between the two sides rose 24.8% last year to US$256.4 billion, reflecting the steady expansion of bilateral trade and highlighting significant potential for further growth.

Meanwhile, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism and local engagement have remained vibrant, strengthening the social foundation of bilateral ties. In 2025, Vietnam welcomed 5.28 million visitors from China, up 41.3% year on year, making China the largest source of international arrivals. At the same time, the number of Vietnamese students in China reached a record high of nearly 24,000, double the figure recorded in 2019. The growing number of tourists and students moving between the two countries underscores deepening connectivity, particularly among younger generations.

On the multilateral front, both countries have maintained close coordination at forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN, sharing support for multilateralism and the central role of international law, while backing each other’s development initiatives.

On border and territorial matters, the land boundary situation has remained generally stable, while both sides have maintained regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms on maritime issues. They have also emphasised the importance of managing differences in an appropriate manner, contributing to regional peace, stability and development.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Vu, the most important factor underpinning these achievements is the mutual trust and understanding between the two countries’ top leaders, along with the active participation of ministries, localities, businesses and people from both sides.

In this context, the upcoming state visit by Party General Secretary and President To Lam is expected not only to consolidate existing foundations but also to open up new breakthroughs, ushering Vietnam–China relations into a higher stage of development, with stronger momentum and broader space for cooperation in the years ahead.

Vietnam-China ties at an unprecedented historic juncture

VOV.VN - Relations between Vietnam and China are at an unprecedented historic juncture, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) has said in a recent media interview in Beijing.