General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping visits Vietnam: Creating a historical mark, creating strong momentum

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife presided over the official welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife on a state visit to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, August 2024. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping paid a State visit to Vietnam from April 14-15.

On the occasion of this particularly important event, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh gave an interview to The Gioi Va Viet Nam Newspaper, highlighting the significance and sharing expectations about the visit.

Could the Ambassador share the significance of the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in the context of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1950-2025) and the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025, especially since this is the second visit to Vietnam by a Chinese leader in the same term, an unprecedented event?

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in China)

This visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping has important significance and symbolism for the relationship between the two countries.

This is the first foreign visit of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in 2025, the fourth visit to Vietnam as China's top leader and the second in the same term. This demonstrates the high importance that the Chinese Party, State and Comrade Xi Jinping personally attach to developing the friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China.

The visit takes place at a crucial time for each Party, each country and the Vietnam-China relationship. Vietnam is striving to successfully implement the goals and tasks set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, implementing many breakthroughs in institutions and infrastructure to serve national development, towards the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. China is entering the final year of accelerating the completion of the goals in the 14th Five-Year Plan, building the 15th Five-Year Plan and the key stage of implementing the Resolution of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, deepening comprehensive reforms in the spirit of the 3rd Plenum of the 20th Central Committee.

Vietnam-China relations have maintained a strong and positive development momentum in recent times and have many outstanding cooperation highlights in all fields. The two sides are practically implementing activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025.

The visit is an opportunity for senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries to continue to deepen strategic exchanges, assess the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, especially the results achieved in implementing high-level joint agreements, and identify major directions and measures to promote the development of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and China in a more stable, substantive and effective manner in the coming time.

Inheriting the tradition of friendship and practices between the two sides, the Party, State and people of Vietnam attach great importance to the visit and will give General Secretary and President Xi Jinping a special welcome, full of friendship and brotherhood.

"This is the first foreign visit of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in 2025, the fourth visit to Vietnam as China's top leader and the second in the same term. This demonstrates the high importance of the Chinese Party, State and Comrade Xi Jinping personally to the development of the Vietnam-China friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive cooperation." (Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh)

Returning to Vietnam after more than a year since his State visit in December 2023, what will be the highlights of Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping's activities in the S-shaped country? What does the Ambassador expect from this visit?

The State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping was highly valued by both sides, and was carefully arranged and prepared in terms of both program and content.

General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will have important talks and meetings with General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

The two sides will inform each other about the situation of each Party and each country, and have in-depth discussions on strengthening and deepening bilateral relations, including promoting the tradition of regular high-level exchanges, further consolidating political trust, promoting the effective implementation of high-level common perceptions and signed agreements, expanding and improving the effectiveness and quality of cooperation areas in the direction of "6 more", bringing substantive cooperation into depth, achieving many practical results and new highlights.

I believe that, in addition to continuing and maintaining the mutual visits between the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries in recent years, the visit will leave a historical mark, adding strong momentum and creating a favorable foundation for the development of the relationship between the two Parties and two countries in the new period; continue to put forward strategic arrangements and important orientations to bring the Vietnam-China relationship to continue to develop firmly and sustainably, reaping many breakthrough achievements, for the development interests of each country.

Accordingly, the two countries will continue to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, accelerate the implementation of agreements and cooperation projects between the two countries to achieve substantial progress, add new contents, contents, measures, directions and mechanisms so that the bilateral relationship develops more comprehensively and practically, meeting the common aspirations of the people of the two countries, and actively contributing to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

Delegates attend the 75th Anniversary of Vietnam-China Diplomatic Relations in Beijing, January 24, 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in China)

There is a Chinese saying: “When the train sounds, ten thousand taels of gold arrive.” How does the Ambassador assess the prospects for promoting trade between the two countries when the Vietnam-China cross-border railway is about to start construction?

In recent times, bilateral trade between Vietnam and China has seen strong growth. Vietnam has been China's largest trading partner in ASEAN for many years and by 2024 it has become China's fourth largest trading partner in the world. Meanwhile, China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, largest import market and second largest export market.

Implementing the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, Vietnam and China are accelerating the promotion of infrastructure connections between the two countries in terms of railways, highways, and border gate infrastructure.

In terms of strategic infrastructure construction, China has technology, experience, financial potential, and many large enterprises; while Vietnam has a great need for development while its resources, experience, technology, and human resources are limited. Therefore, the two countries have potential and strengths that can complement and support each other in this field.

In that context, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Dong Dang - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong standard gauge railways are important and strategic transport projects and symbols of Vietnam-China relations.

Currently, agencies of the two sides are actively discussing to deploy the connection of these standard railway lines, thereby creating a favorable foundation for trade, economy, tourism and people-to-people exchange, bringing great benefits to the two countries.

In the context of the constantly expanding trade between Vietnam and China, the demand for multimodal transport is increasing, along with road, air and sea, freight transport by rail is a suitable choice to increase the efficiency of traffic connection between the two countries.

The above standard railway lines will help reduce the transit time of goods at the border, optimize transportation costs, and enhance the advantages and competitiveness of the two sides' logistics industry. These are favorable factors that help Vietnam export more and more strong goods such as agricultural and aquatic products to the Chinese market, as well as bring Chinese products to the Vietnamese market.

"In the context of the continuous expansion of trade between Vietnam and China, the demand for multimodal transport is increasing, along with road, air and sea transport, rail freight transport is a suitable choice to increase the efficiency of traffic connection between the two countries." (Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh)

The first intermodal train carrying Tet goods in 2025 between Vietnam and China departed from Guangxi. (Source: CCTV)

In addition, the railway connection helps Vietnamese goods take advantage of the railway transport route connecting from China to potential markets such as Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, etc., contributing to diversifying the export market for Vietnamese goods.

At the same time, high-quality Chinese goods can also penetrate ASEAN markets through railways connecting to Vietnam, promoting the strengths of regional free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

The Vietnam-China Cultural Exchange Year 2025 is taking place in a very exciting and bustling atmosphere with a series of events and activities promoting people-to-people exchanges. Could you cite some outstanding and impressive events?

Vietnam and China have a long-standing traditional friendship, close cultures, and the people of the two countries support and help each other in the revolutionary struggle and socialist construction.

In recent years, the two sides have carried out extensive cooperation in the field of people-to-people exchange. Currently, there are more than 23,000 Vietnamese students studying in China; the number of Vietnamese tourists to China every year always ranks first among ASEAN countries; in 2024, Vietnam welcomed about 3.7 million Chinese visitors; there are currently 400 flights between the two countries every week.

The year 2025 has been identified by both sides as the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since the beginning of the year, the two sides have closely coordinated and extensively implemented humanitarian exchange activities.

At the end of March, the program "Meeting Vietnamese and Chinese students of all periods" was held at the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace (Hanoi). General Secretary To Lam attended and delivered an important speech, affirming the solid foundation of bilateral relations that generations of leaders of the two countries have worked hard to cultivate, sending a strong message to the young generation of the two countries as "young cultural ambassadors" inheriting the tradition of friendship, continuing to play a core role in developing Vietnam-China relations well, effectively and sustainably, adding strong vitality and a bright future to bilateral relations, which has been highly appreciated by public opinion of the two countries, international and regional public opinion.

The launching ceremony of the Vietnam - China Media Exchange Program 2025 took place in Hanoi on April 10.

Mass organizations and localities of the two countries, especially border localities, continuously carry out many friendly exchange activities, scientific seminars, cultural and artistic seminars, and tourism cooperation to celebrate the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year, not only demonstrating the geographical proximity and cultural similarities, but also showing the close emotional bond between the people of the two countries.

The two sides are also increasing direct flights between major cities of the two countries such as Hanoi - Fuzhou, Ho Chi Minh City - Beijing, and resuming flights between Hong Kong - Ho Chi Minh City, creating favorable conditions for travel, business and tourism activities of the people of the two countries.

In addition, the two sides are also actively researching and organizing activities for youths of the two countries to visit "red addresses" bearing revolutionary imprints, in order to promote propaganda and education for the young generations of the two countries about the good traditional friendship between Vietnam and China.

In the coming time, the two sides will continue to carry out cultural exchange activities with rich and diverse methods and measures, building more bridges of friendship between the people of the two countries, and consolidating an increasingly solid social foundation for bilateral relations.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

The year 2025 was identified by both sides as the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in China)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-bi-thu-chu-cich-trung-quoc-tap-can-binh-tham-viet-nam-tao-dau-an-lich-su-tiep-dong-luc-manh-me-310680.html