At the invitation of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China, To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam paid a state visit to China from August 18 to 20. This visit is To Lam's first overseas trip since he was appointed party chief on August 3, and a significant interaction between the leaders of China and Vietnam after a six-month hiatus, underscoring its importance.
Why did To Lam choose China for his first trip abroad after assuming office? What agreements and consensus have been reached between the two sides? What top-level guidance will the highest leaders of China and Vietnam provide for bilateral relations? These three key points are also the main focus of global media.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese president, who is on a state visit to China, and his wife Ngo Phuong Ly prior to the talks between Xi and Lam in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo by Xie Huanqi, Xinhua News Agency)
01. Vietnam Prioritizes Developing Relations with China as a “Top Priority and Strategic Choice”
Vietnam and China are both socialist countries led by communist parties. The development and close interaction between the two parties and countries have been noteworthy. Since the historic mutual visits of the top leaders of both parties and countries in 2022 and 2023, the relationship has maintained a positive development momentum. To Lam's choice of China for his first visit abroad after assuming office highlights Vietnam's prioritization of developing relations with China as a "top priority and strategic choice." The long-standing traditional friendship and deep diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties serve as stabilizers and boosters for the bilateral relationship.
The Turkish news website "The Pinnacle Gazette" points out that the three-day visit aligns with both nations aiming to strengthen traditional friendship narratives and is rooted in the deep diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between China and Vietnam. According to Agence France-Presse, China and Vietnam have established a comprehensive strategic partnership and share many similarities as communist-governed countries.
The American magazine "The Diplomat" reports that this visit to China is To Lam's first trip abroad since becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The shared interests between China and Vietnam act as stabilizers for the bilateral relationship.
Vietnamese news website "VietNamNet" notes that in recent years, the Vietnam-China relationship has achieved milestone development, with frequent high-level interactions and cooperation in trade and investment remaining key highlights of the bilateral relationship. Local cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries are also vibrant.
On June 20th, Vietnamese tourists visited Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, China (Photo by Wang Sixian, Xinhua News Agency)
The Singapore newspaper "Lianhe Zaobao" reports that China strongly desires to stabilize its relationship with Vietnam. For To Lam and other new Vietnamese leaders, managing relations with China remains a priority in Vietnamese diplomacy. Over the past year, Vietnam has faced complex and changing situations. Stabilizing the domestic political landscape has been To Lam's primary task, and China is a crucial external force for Vietnam's stability.
Vietnam News Agency points out that the friendship cultivated by several generations of leaders from both countries has become a shared valuable asset for the people of both nations, contributing to the stable development of traditional Vietnam-China friendship and bringing tangible benefits to their peoples. The visit was a success on all fronts, contributing significantly to the construction of a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future with strategic significance, which in turn contributes to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
02. Friendship and Cooperation Remain the Mainstream of China-Vietnam Relations
China and Vietnam have close economic and trade relations, with China being Vietnam's largest trading partner since 2004, and Vietnam being China's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. Moreover, the two sides maintain close communication on international and regional issues, as well as cultural exchanges. The consensus and cooperation reached in economic and trade cooperation and friendly exchanges between China and Vietnam have been the focus of public opinion during To Lam's visit to China.
The Associated Press reports that on the 19th, the leaders of China and Vietnam pledged to further strengthen economic relations between the two countries. The two leaders witnessed the signing of 14 cooperation documents. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $172 billion in 2023, and Vietnam benefiting economically from Chinese manufacturers' investments.
On September 15, 2023, at a plant in Vietnam, workers are labeling durians that are about to be exported to China. (Photo by Hu Jiali, Xinhua News Agency)
The Singapore newspaper "Lianhe Zaobao" reports that China and Vietnam signed 14 cooperation documents, including feasibility study of the technical aid project for planning two standard gauge railway routes of Lạng Sơn - Hà Nội and Móng Cái - Hạ Long - Hà Nội, which are expected to pave the way for upgrading cross-border railway connections between the two countries.
Vietnam News Agency reports that as 2025 sees the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, both sides affirm commitment to preserving the traditional friendship, upholding shared ideals and missions, and consistently promoting popularization work on the Vietnam-China friendship. The two sides declare 2025 as the "Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange" and will jointly organize a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China.
Vietnam briefing reports that To Lam's visit is expected to open a new stage in the development of China-Vietnam relations. This visit is a significant foreign affair for Vietnam this year and is expected to have a major impact on the development trend of relations between the two parties and countries for a long time to come. Friendship and cooperation have always been the mainstream of China-Vietnam relations.
03. This Visit Holds Special Significance for the Development of China-Vietnam Relations in the New Era
In 2008, China and Vietnam established a comprehensive strategic partnership, and cooperation in various fields has made comprehensive progress. In the new era, China-Vietnam relations continue to expand and deepen. In 2023, the two sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two sides. What guidance will the highest leaders of China and Vietnam provide for the bilateral relationship, and in which areas will China-Vietnam relations continue to deepen? These are also the topics that attract attention.
Vietnam's Nhandan points out that this visit holds special significance for the development of Vietnam-China relations in the new era. Political mutual trust between China and Vietnam continues to strengthen, and exchanges at various levels are active. To Lam's state visit to China reflects the high importance both countries attach to deepening and enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
The Turkish news website "The Pinnacle Gazette" reports that recent trade data shows strong performance in China-Vietnam trade, and if the momentum continues, bilateral trade is expected to reach about $200 billion by the end of 2024. This visit will boost the economic partnership between China and Vietnam and strengthen political cooperation, which is crucial not only for continuing traditional friendship but also for future cooperation.
On March 8, a China-Vietnam freight train loaded with 340 tons of power transmission towers departed from Nanning International Railway Port bound for Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Cao Yiming, Xinhua News Agency)
Ha Hoang Hop, associate senior fellow with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, emphasized that China and Vietnam have a comprehensive strategic partnership, which aligns with the consensus of both countries. Regular high-level visits between the two countries help strengthen the partnership.
FirstPost (India) considers Xi Jinping's meeting with the new Vietnamese leader To Lam in Beijing as a significant moment in the bilateral relationship. Vietnam News Agency analyzes that this visit is To Lam's first trip abroad since becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and is a particularly important diplomatic event in 2024, with a profound and far-reaching impact on the long-term development of relations between the two parties and countries.
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