Vietnam aspires to further solidify all-around ties with China

The Vietnamese Government chief welcomed Premier Li’s official visit to Vietnam, which is also the first by a Chinese Premier over the past 11 years. He showed his confidence that the visit would be a success, spreading the positive impact to ministries, agencies, sectors and localities of both nations about their determination in realizing the high-level perceptions and developing the bilateral relationship in a more effective, practical and comprehensive manner, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.

The two PMs briefed each other on the situation of each Party and each nation. They evaluated the implementation of common perceptions and cooperation agreements across multiple fields and agreed upon directions and measures to contribute to the effective implementation of the direction of "six major goals" and the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reached by senior leaders during high-level visits, and most recently the state visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam in August 2024.

Congratulating the Chinese Party, Government and fraternal people on their achievements over the past 75 years, PM Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s recognition of great importance to  fostering and developing its friendly and cooperative ties with the neighbouring country, considering it a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

In response, the Chinese Premier showed his elation at paying the first official visit to Vietnam in his position as the Premier, emphasizing that China greatly values its relationship with Vietnam and always regards Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy policy.

The two government leaders noted with pleasure the significant and encouraging achievements in the bilateral friendship and cooperation, with strengthened political trust, frequent exchanges and meetings at various levels, and accelerated strategic connectivity, particularly in transport connectivity.

Practical cooperation across multiple sectors has obtained specific outcomes with two-way trade surging by 21.9% during the nine-month period of 2024. Tourism cooperation has also shown a robust recovery, with Chinese tourist arrivals to Vietnam reaching 2.7 million throughout the reviewed period, exceeding the total number for the whole 2023. Locality-to-locality collaboration has been vibrant while multilateral coordination has become closer and more effective.

Concerning the bilateral cooperation in the time to come, they concurred to effectively realise the common perceptions reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and nations; continue consolidating political trust and maintaining regular meetings and exchanges at all levels.

They pledged to promote mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation, particularly in diplomacy, national defence and public security; ramping up practical cooperation in key areas, intensifying people-to-people exchanges, and reinforcing the solid social foundation for the development of the Vietnam-China relations.

Both government chiefs vowed to maintain close collaboration and mutual support within multilateral mechanisms and forums; and cooperate effectively in land border management. At the talks, they formally announced the official operation of the Ban Gioc (Vietnam) – Detian (China) waterfall scenic area from October 15, 2024.

PM Chinh proposed expediting the necessary procedures to open a Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing as soon as possible, further stepping up trade cooperation and expanding market access for high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products, including citrus fruits, pomelo, avocado, custard apple, water apple, traditional herbal medicines of plant origin, buffalo, beef, pork, livestock and poultry products, and farm-raised ornate spiny lobster.

He also requested support for establishing a Vietnamese Trade Promotion Office in Haikou this year, and more offices in Chengdu (Sichuan) and Nanjing (Jiangsu) in the time ahead.

He called for improved customs clearance efficiency at border gates, advancing “soft connectivity” through smart customs, and launching new models for cross-border economic cooperation between Vietnam and China.

With regard to transport connectivity, the Vietnamese cabinet leader called for collaboration to effectively materialise signed railway cooperation documents in order to develop a modern railway industry through preferential loans, technology transfer, and personnel training for Vietnam in service of the implementation three standard-gauge railway lines connecting northern Vietnamese localities with China, namely Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, Lang Son – Hanoi, and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong.

In terms of investment cooperation, he proposed combined efforts to put in place large-scale, high-tech projects in the sectors where China has strength and Vietnam has demand, which are seen as symbols of the bilateral ties. They cover such areas as renewable energy, supporting industries, electric vehicles, international financial centres, free trade zones, smart cities, digital economy, green economy, and circular economy.

PM Chinh also underlined the need to boost cooperation in banking, science and technology, education, culture, tourism, and environmental protection. He suggested the two sides increase the sharing of data on meteorology, hydrology, and cross-border water resources, while working together to ensure sustainable management and use of the Mekong-Lancang River water resources.

He called for the effective implementation of scholarships for Vietnamese students, support for the establishment of a Vietnamese cultural centre in Beijing, and cooperation in building a master plan for the Year for Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange 2025.

Chinh suggested the two countries should bolster tourism cooperation, and create conditions for Vietnamese airports to extend flight schedules at Chinese airports.

Li voiced his support for PM Chinh's proposals, affirming his nation’s readiness to work with Vietnam to foster the political foundation and practical cooperation.

He pledged that China will further open its doors for Vietnamese goods, particularly agricultural and aquatic products, and high-quality fruits, and coordinate to facilitate quarantine and customs procedures, stressing China stands ready to deal with trade policy issues to ensure sustainable and growing bilateral trade.

The Chinese Premier suggested the two countries boost strategic connectivity, especially in transport infrastructure; promote cooperation in economy, trade, and investment, especially in manufacturing, processing, agriculture, supply and production chain maintenance, and vocational training; and expand finance-monetary collaboration, making the bilateral cooperation more effective and practical.

He asked both sides to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the Year for Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange 2025, and strengthen the social foundation, and expressed his support for stronger tourism cooperation, locality-to-locality exchange, and opening more two-way flights.

PM Chinh suggested both sides respect each other's legitimate and legal rights and interests and resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially  the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); properly handle the issue of fishing vessels and fishermen in line with the friendly relations between the two countries, and not let the East Sea issue affect political trust between the two sides and hurt the feelings and trust of both nations' people.

At the end of the talks, the two government leaders witnessed the signing of 10 cooperation documents in the fields of transport connectivity, customs, people's livelihood, education, agricultural trade, media, and banking.