Hanoi seeks to build stronger links with Beijing

Meeting with Liu Wei, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing and president of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee School, on May 16, Phong said that Hanoi has always taken heed to developing ties of friendship and co-operation with all Chinese localities, especially Beijing.

He therefore thanked Beijing for supporting the organisation of training courses for officials for the Hanoi Party Committee in the 2025 to 2030 tenure on the basis of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Hanoi Party Committee’s Organization Commission and the Beijing Municipal Party Committee School.

Phong hailed the relations between both countries in general, as well as the partnership between Hanoi and Beijing in particular, while voicing his hope that the Hanoi-Beijing relationship will become a model for future locality-to-locality co-operation between the two countries.

Briefing the host on Hanoi’s socio-economic situation, he said that during this visit, the delegation is keen to learn of Beijing’s experience in preserving and promoting values of heritages, developing cultural industries, and local press management.

Phong therefore proposed future collaboration orientations between the two cities, including maintaining bilateral exchanges and meetings at all levels and expanding linkages in culture. Hanoi has asked for Beijing’s assistance to the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre in restoring ancient palaces serving the research, conservation, and promotion of values of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage, specifically focusing on restoring Kinh Thien palace.

He also suggested that both sides should foster a partnership in personnel training, while working together to step up communications on the significance of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership and the Hanoi-Beijing relations through people-to-people exchange activities, especially with the involvement of youngsters, he said.

Phong also emphasized the need for the two cities to promote the bilateral economic and investment partnership. Hanoi welcomes and backs Beijing’s enterprises to invest and expand operations in the capital, especially in new fields such as digital transformation, green growth, renewable energy, the circular economy, and environmental protection.

He used the occasion to invite leaders of the Party Committee and administration of Beijing to visit Hanoi in October to mark the occasion of the 30-year partnership between the two cities and celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Liberation Day of Hanoi.

In reply, Liu highlighted the Hanoi delegation’s visit as a means of contributing to realising the common perceptions reached between leaders of the two cities and expanding the co-operation between the two sides.

Beijing and Hanoi boast huge potential and conditions to enhance their friendship for common benefits, he said, adding that Beijing consented to work alongside Hanoi to further deepen bilateral ties.

Agreeing with Phong’s proposals, Liu requested that the two cities focus on increasing collaboration through the Party channel; exchanging experience in city governance; maintaining exchanges; and boosting co-operation in economics, digital transformation, training, youth exchange, and expanding partnership to new areas such as culture, communications, and tourism.

The two sides agreed to continue boosting the bilateral relationship, making it a model for locality-to-locality co-operation between the two nations.

Following the meeting, the Hanoi delegation and Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai attended the closing of a training course for officials planned for the Hanoi Party Committee in the 2025 to 2030 tenure at the Beijing Municipal Party Committee School.

Later on the same day, they attended an art programme and a photo exhibition to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hanoi-Beijing friendship.