State President Nguyen Minh Triet begins a four-day official visit to China on May 15 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. The visit takes place at a time when bilateral relations have been developing well in recent years, particularly following a visit to China by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in July 2006 and a reciprocal visit to Vietnam by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao in November 2006. The two countries have speeded up the implementation of cooperation projects, including border demarcation and marker planting. China considers Vietnam one of its priority-given countries in its diplomatic policy with neighbours.

In this context, Mr Triet’s visit aims to maintain regular meetings between the two countries’ top leaders and reaffirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of developing its relations of friendship and long-lasting, trustworthy and comprehensive cooperation with China.

Since Vietnam and China normalised their relations in 1991, bilateral ties have been developing rapidly in all areas, thus bringing practical benefits to the two countries. They have signed a total of 52 State-level agreements, laying a firm legal foundation for long-term cooperation. 

When Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu visited China in February 1999, the two countries defined their course of development towards the 21st century under the motto of "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long lasting stability and looking towards the future."

During another visit to China in December 2000 by State President Tran Duc Luong, the two countries signed a joint statement on comprehensive cooperation in the 21^st century to bring the motto to life. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations in line with the spirit of "Good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners."

Bilateral cooperation in diplomacy, national defence and security has been enhanced through the signing of cooperation agreements between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs in December 2000, Ministries of Public Security in September 2003 and Ministries of National Defence in October 2003.

Exchanges between the two countries’ young people have been conducted frequently, with a focus on diverse and practical issues. The two countries have also organised workshops to share experiences in national governance, socialist construction and Party building.

Enhanced economic relations among their border localities have facilitated economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. Currently, China is Vietnam’s leading trade partner with two-way trade value reaching US$10.42 billion last year. In the first quarter of this year, bilateral trade value hit US$2.99 billion, a year-on-year increase of 42.2 percent.

However, annual bilateral trade value makes up only 0.6 percent of China’s exports but 12 percent of Vietnam’s exports. It is worth noting that Vietnam has experienced import surplus from China since 2001. From January-September 2005, Vietnam’s import surplus stood at US$2.15 billion, an increase of 111.3 percent from a year earlier. The two countries have discussed measures to raise two-way trade value and help reduce Vietnam’s import surplus. The Chinese side pledged to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese products to enter its market and to expand its investment in Vietnam to increase its exports to China.

Chinese investment in Vietnam has increased constantly in recent times. By October 20, 2006, China ranked 15^th among 74 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 399 valid projects capitalised at nearly US$835 million.  

China has affirmed its desire to cooperate with Vietnam in big projects in the areas of infrastructure construction, energy, electronics, transport and industries.

During a visit to Vietnam in November 2006 by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao, the two sides signed an agreement on expanding their economic and trade cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding on the “Two Corridors, One Economic Belt” cooperation model. Working groups will be set up soon to implement the two agreements.

They agreed to speed up the border demarcation and border marker planting to complete the work in 2008 as scheduled. They also agreed to step up negotiations on the delineation of the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf and maintain stability in the East Sea, as well as exchanging views on the proper use of water resources of the Mekong and Red Rivers.

Bilateral cooperation in education and training and culture and sports has been also strengthened in recent years. Every year, China receives a great number of Vietnamese students and trainees as well as sportsmen to study in the country and sends cadres and coaches to Vietnam to help with training.

Cultural exchanges have been conducted regularly, to help promote the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries’ people.

As Vietnam and China have great potential for development, it is hoped that bilateral ties will further develop in the 21^st century to meet the aspirations and interests of the two countries’ people and for the benefit of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.