Prof. Xu Liping, Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), emphasised that the article’s prominent publication in the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is a extremely important diplomatic gesture, clearly demonstrating the great importance the Vietnamese Party and State attach to Xi’s trip.

In his article titled "Joining Hands to Open a New Era of Development of Vietnam - China Friendship,” Lam emphasised that Xi, as the top leader of the CPC and the People’s Republic of China, has visited Vietnam more than any other Chinese leader in history. Lam called Xi a sincere comrade and a close friend of Vietnam.

Xu said Lam's choice of words reflects his deep respect and high regard for the Chinese leader.

According to Xu, in his article, the Vietnamese Party leader stressed that China was the first country in the world to officially establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam, and Vietnam was the first Southeast Asian country to establish official diplomatic relations with China. This underscores the strategic significance and long-standing history of Vietnam–China relations.

Lam’s vision for advancing Vietnam–China relations in the new era holds great significance for building a Vietnam–China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, the professor said.

Xu noted that key priorities spotlighted by the Vietnamese leader such as strengthening strategic exchanges and mutual trust, promoting practical cooperation, and deepening people-to-people exchanges, were seen as vital initiatives to foster the building of the community in the future.

Meanwhile, Ling Dequan, a researcher at China's Centre for World Affairs Studies, who is former head of Xinhua news agency's bureau in Hanoi, said this is the first time a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has penned an important article in the People’s Daily. Moreover, this is also the first time the newspaper has carried such a significant article by a foreign leader, which reflecting that the Chinese Party, government, and people attach great importance to developing bilateral relations, as well as their respect, trust and deep friendship towards the CPV Central Committee led by Lam.

The article also reflects the high regard the Vietnamese Party, government, and people give to bilateral relations, and their respect, trust, and friendship toward the Chinese leader, the researcher said.

Shen Shiwei, a journalist of China Global Television Network (CGTN) under China Media Group (CMG), said what impressed him most in Lam’s article was the "profound Vietnam–China bond — both comrades and brothers".

Party chief spotlights close friendship between Vietnam and China

Vietnam and China are two close neighbours, connected by mountains and rivers, and the people of the two countries have shared many similarities in culture and customs, and together cultivated a long-standing traditional friendship that has lasted for thousands of years.