Vietnam is an important bridge connecting with Europe, Central Asia and ASEAN.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hung Ba gave an interview to the press about the significance and results of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh 's working trip to attend the WEF Dalian Conference and work in China.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with General Secretary andPresident of China Xi Jinping – Photo: VGP

Concretizing the important common perception of the two countries' senior leaders

On June 24-27, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 15th Annual Pioneers Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian and worked in China. Could you please assess the significance and results of the trip as well as the meetings between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and senior Chinese leaders?

Chinese Ambassador Hung Ba : During his working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and worked in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China and attended the WEF 2024 Conference, and met with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as well as senior leaders of China. These are extremely important meetings between senior leaders of Vietnam and China, demonstrating Vietnam's support for international events hosted by China.

At the meetings and contacts, the two sides reviewed cooperation in all fields; deepened strategic exchanges and reached many important common perceptions; positively assessed the achievements that Vietnam and China have made in building a community of shared future, after the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in 2023, as well as outlined a roadmap for comprehensive cooperation in all fields between the two countries in the coming time.

At the same time, the leaders of the two countries had in-depth discussions on Party building, State management, promoting the construction of socialism in the new era and new stage, as well as important contents on reform and innovation of the two sides and achieved important results.

This visit and working session of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is of great significance, continuing to concretize the important common perception of the two highest leaders of the two Parties, as well as of the two countries' senior leaders, especially the content in the Joint Statements, documents and joint agreements; aiming to preserve and further promote the current positive development momentum of the two countries.

Vietnam plays an important role in the regional and world economy.

This year's Dalian WEF Conference marks the third consecutive time that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has attended the WEF Annual Conference. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered an important speech at the Conference. What is your assessment of the messages that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered in his speech and Vietnam's contributions to the WEF?

Chinese Ambassador Hung Ba: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to China this time follows   The invitation of Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang and Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab demonstrates the importance of the Chinese Government, as well as the importance of the WEF Organization towards Vietnam, proving the role and influence of Vietnam on the world economy.

At the same time, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was an important guest of the Forum, sitting at the Presidential table with the President of Poland, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President to attend the Opening Ceremony of this annual conference. On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also gave a very important speech, personally I think this speech is wonderful, especially at a Forum, an important international stage with more than 1,700 international guests from more than 100 countries and territories in the fields of politics, economics, trade, etc.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh comprehensively introduced Vietnam's development achievements, including socio-economic promotion, innovation as well as development goals in the coming time; welcomed foreign enterprises to invest in Vietnam. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated China's development achievements, especially China's role in world economic growth. This demonstrates the common vision of Vietnam and China on a number of global issues. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's speech was very important and received the welcome of the participating countries.

On the Chinese side, they highly appreciated the achievements that the Vietnamese people have achieved in recent times, under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, especially in building socialism. Vietnam has overcome the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting healthy socio-economic development; Vietnam's economy is on the path of positive development. Currently, the scale of Vietnam's economy has entered the top 40 in the world, and Vietnam's import-export turnover is in the top 20 in the world. All sides assessed that Vietnam's GDP growth this year will exceed 6%.

Vietnam plays an important role in the regional and global economy, which is also the reason why Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is one of the few Heads of Government invited to attend the WEF Forum three times in a row.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hung Ba answers the press about the results and significance of his working trip to attend the WEF Dalian Conference and work in China - Photo: VGP

Cooperation in developing transport infrastructure has strategic significance.

During his working trip to China, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the “Vietnam-China Cooperation Conference on Strategic Transport Infrastructure Development and the Role of Vietnamese-Chinese Enterprises”, and met with leaders of leading Chinese corporations and enterprises in the transport infrastructure sector. According to the Ambassador, what opportunities do these activities open up for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of strategic transport infrastructure development?

Chinese Ambassador Hung Ba : Developing and connecting transport infrastructure, especially cross-border railway systems, is a priority area that Vietnam and China have reached an agreement on and both sides attach great importance to. During his visit to China and the WEF Dalian Forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Conference "Vietnam-China Cooperation Conference on Strategic Transport Infrastructure Development and the Role of Vietnamese-Chinese Enterprises", a Conference that was solemnly organized and very successful. In particular, this conference attracted many heads of enterprises and Chairmen of large corporations in the field of transport infrastructure to attend the event. The Chinese Government also attaches special importance to this Conference and has assigned a Politburo member and Vice Premier of China to attend and speak.

Strengthening connectivity in transport infrastructure in accordance with the requirements of both sides as well as the development needs of Vietnam in the coming time. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam also considered the construction of transport infrastructure as one of the three strategic breakthroughs in the future.

China attaches great importance to cooperation with Vietnam in this field, especially projects in northern Vietnam and the border areas of the two countries. Currently, China has supported Vietnam in completing the planning of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway. After the Vietnamese side completes the preparation work, the Chinese side is ready to carry out feasibility studies for the projects. The Chinese side is ready to use non-refundable aid to help Vietnam develop the planning of the two railway projects Dong Dang-Hanoi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong in the near future. I think that these projects will make an important contribution to the development of the Vietnamese economy.

The above cooperation contents are extremely meaningful and strategic, demonstrating the high political trust between the two countries, further tightening the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and China in the field of supply chains and production chains. China is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner. After strengthening connectivity and completing intermodal railway projects, Vietnam will be an important bridge connecting with European, Central Asian and ASEAN countries. This is also a vivid manifestation of the community of shared future, of strategic significance between Vietnam and China.

The Prime Minister took a souvenir photo with delegates attending the Vietnam-China cooperation conference on strategic transport infrastructure development and the role of Vietnamese-Chinese enterprises – Photo: VGP

Further strengthening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working trip has laid a good foundation towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China in 2025. What are your expectations for the Vietnam-China relationship?

Chinese Ambassador Hung Ba : Recently, especially after two historic visits by the two leaders of the two Parties, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, the relationship between the two countries has reached a new height, and cooperation in all fields between the two sides has entered a new important stage.

On January 18, 2025, Vietnam and China will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This is a very important event that both countries attach great importance to, taking place in the context of Vietnam and China being on the path of positive development; high-level contacts between the two sides will become increasingly closer.

Especially in the coming year 2025 - the year Vietnam prepares for the 14th National Party Congress, I believe that the two sides will further strengthen exchanges on party building, national governance, and sharing about China's innovation, reform and opening up; aiming to build medium and long-term plans as well as implement the two countries' two 100-year goals.

Vietnam has set a goal of becoming a developing country with high average income and modern industry by 2030. I believe that in the coming time, the cooperation between the two sides in various fields, especially green energy, clean energy and digital economy, will continue to be promoted, contributing to helping Vietnam successfully achieve its set goals.

Ambassador Hung Ba expressed his belief that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent visit to China will further strengthen the traditional friendship; enhance the understanding and affection between the people of Vietnam and China and achieve many great achievements.

Hong Nguyen

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dai-su-trung-quoc-viet-nam-la-cau-noi-quan-trong-ket-noi-voi-chau-au-trung-a-va-asean-102240704230948609.htm