Joining hands to open a new era of development for Vietnam - China friendship

"At the invitation of Me and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong, Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, will pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15, 2025, during the year the people of the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950 - January 18, 2025) and the Vietnam - China Humanitarian Exchange Year.

This is Comrade Xi Jinping's fourth visit to Vietnam since taking on the responsibility of General Secretary and President of China, and also his second visit to Vietnam during the 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China.

As the Supreme leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China visiting Vietnam most in history, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is a sincere comrade and a great friend of Vietnam.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam warmly welcomed and believed that the visit would be a great success, contributing greatly and significantly to strongly promoting the tradition of friendship, opening a new era of development of Vietnam - China relations.

I- Vietnam - China relations: History of strong friendship, comprehensive cooperation achievements

Vietnam and China are two close neighbors, with mountains and rivers connected in a strip, the two countries' peoples have many similarities in culture and customs, together fostering a long-standing traditional friendship over thousands of years of history.

In the revolutionary journey associated from the beginning with countless difficulties, generations of leaders of the two Parties and countries, directly President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zhe Dong, have continuously worked hard to foster "the close relationship between Vietnam and China, both comrades and brothers".

During many years of revolutionary activities in China, President Ho Chi Minh has always received the affectionate affection and enthusiastic help of the Chinese communists and people.

Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese communists also actively participated in the revolutionary movement in China.

The history of standing shoulder to shoulder and sharing hardship between the two countries' revolutionaries is a shining example in the revolutionary struggle movement of the world's middle class, laying a solid foundation for the Vietnam - China friendship in the future.

Based on the trust relationship between the two Communist Parties, on January 18, 1950 after its establishment not long after, the People's Republic of China was the first country in the world to officially establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).

Vietnam is also the first Southeast Asian country to officially establish diplomatic relations with China. This is a brilliant historical milestone, opening a new era for the Vietnam - China friendship.

Under the guidance of the two Communist Parties, the people of the two countries have given each other help and support with all their heart, contributing to the victory and success of the national liberation revolution and the construction and development of the country according to the socialist orientation in each country.

Over the past 75 years, peace, friendship and development cooperation have always been the main flow in the relationship between the two countries, because the two Parties and countries share a common unchanged and long-term view that the stable and sustainable development of the Vietnam-China friendship and cooperation relationship is a fundamental and long-term benefit, a long-standing aspiration of the two peoples for peace and friendship, of great significance to the revolutionary cause in each country, in line with the great trend of the times of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development.

In the overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, the Party and State of Vietnam always persevere and consistently give top priority, determined to work with the Party and State of China to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the Vietnam - China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of all of humanity.

The Vietnamese people will never forget the great and effective help of the Chinese people in historical periods. Vietnam always considers China's prosperous development as an opportunity for itself, and is happy and highly appreciates China's affirmation of prioritizing the development of relations with Vietnam in neighboring diplomacy and considering this a strategic choice for both countries.

From those important common perceptions, the Vietnam - China relationship has been continuously promoted in recent years to new heights, achieving many important and comprehensive achievements and milestones in all fields.

The senior leaders of the two Parties and countries regularly maintain strategic exchanges in many flexible forms, promptly making important decisions to orient and shape the continuous development of Vietnam - China relations to become more substantial and effective.

Most recently, the two countries agreed to elevate their relations to a Community of strategic significance in the future during the historic visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (December 2023).

Along with that, diverse exchange and cooperation mechanisms on channels, in all fields, from the central to local levels, as well as cooperation on international multilateral forums and institutions have also had increasingly substantial developments, contributing to enriching and deepening the content of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership framework.

Economic and trade relations are constantly developing strongly, bringing many practical benefits to the people of the two countries. In the past three decades, bilateral trade turnover has grown by more than 6,400 times, setting a new peak, surpassing 200 billion USD in 2024.

Vietnam will maintain its position as China's largest trading partner in ASEAN, rising to become China's fourth largest trading partner in the world; China is Vietnam's largest trading partner.

To date, China has become the third largest foreign investor in Vietnam, leading in the number of new investment projects.

The fields of people-to-people, cultural, educational and tourism exchanges between the two countries have achieved many encouraging achievements, becoming increasingly vibrant and becoming a new bright spot contributing to strengthening the more solid social foundation for Vietnam - China relations.

It can be said that the friendship between the two peoples is increasingly close, as the image that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping once summarized very briefly is "the small streams that extend forever, converging into the vast river of friendship exchange between the two countries".

The two sides have resolved many problems left by history; agreed to persistently handle them appropriately and actively resolve disagreements through peaceful means on the basis of mutual understanding and respect, in accordance with international law.

For the relationship between the two Parties and two countries to develop well and comprehensively as it is today, the most important lesson from experience is in the sincerity, trust and mutual understanding between the two socialist neighboring countries under the leadership of the Communist Party, originating deeply from the tradition of humanity and respect for the two peoples; the intellectual vision, determination and action of generations of leaders of the two Parties and two countries; the cooperation and participation of the political system and people of the two countries.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam respect and highly appreciate the especially important feelings, enthusiasm and contributions of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to the Vietnam-China relationship over the years.

II- Vision for a new era of development: For the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity

The world is facing fundamental and fundamental changes of the times, profound changes in all aspects under the impact of major shifts in politics, economy, culture, society and science and technology.

From now until 2030 and looking further into 2045, as well as to 2050, the middle of the 21st century - key times associated with major milestones in the revolutionary careers of the two Parties and two countries, is the most important period to shape a new world order, opening up great opportunities and many challenges for countries.

For Vietnam, this is an important strategic opportunity period, a final stage to create a new era of national development and fulfill President Ho Chi Minh's wish to "build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, and make a worthy contribution to the cause of the world revolution".

For China, this is a key period and a stepping stone in implementing the second 100-year goal, building the People's Republic of China into a rich, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist power.

The above context requires the two countries to have an international vision and national action to make the most of strategic opportunities, convert challenges into opportunities and build a prosperous future for both countries.

We have enough basis and confidence to realize the long-term development goals of each country, and now is a favorable time for the two Parties and countries to jointly determine a vision for a new era of development in the Vietnam-China relationship, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity. Specifically as follows:

First, maintain strategic exchanges and enhance political trust. This is the most important issue, a premise for the successful implementation of programs, plans, and cooperation agreements between the two sides, ensuring political development for the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and China in the right direction and in a healthy manner.

The two sides continue to effectively implement high-level exchanges and contacts, closely and smoothly combining the channels of foreign affairs of the Party, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy; improve the effectiveness and elevate the level of cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defense, security and between levels, sectors and localities of the two countries.

Second, strengthen substantive cooperation in all fields, creating new growth poles. Vietnam is always ready to join hands with China to make cooperation between the two countries more and more substantial, deeper, more balanced and more sustainable, becoming a model of sincere and effective cooperation between the two developing and developing socialist neighboring countries, increasingly better meeting the interests of the people of the two countries.

The two sides will think creatively about new forms of cooperation, in line with the key orientation of each country's socio-economic development strategy; focus on implementing major projects, new cooperation symbols of the Vietnam-China relationship, in which the implementation of 3 standard gauge railway lines connecting the two countries is considered the highest priority in strategic infrastructure cooperation between the two sides; expand cooperation in areas where China has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, high-quality human resource training, to become a bright spot in bilateral cooperation, in line with the common development trend of the international community.

Third, to more firmly strengthen the favorable social foundation for Vietnam - China relations. At the phone call at the beginning of this year, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and I jointly announced the launch of the Vietnam - China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025. This is the most appropriate time to promote people-to-people exchanges and increase propaganda about the friendship between the two Parties, two countries and peoples; promote substantial cooperation in culture, tourism, education and training; effectively promote the "red" relics bearing the revolutionary imprint of the two countries in both Vietnam and China to enhance the pride and confidence of the people of the two countries on the path to socialism that the two Parties and peoples have chosen and the tradition of Vietnam - China friendship. In particular, the role of the two countries' key press and media agencies is very important in enhancing affection and understanding between the two peoples, helping the two countries to be closer, contributing to promoting cooperation, friendship and mutual benefit.

Fourth, join hands to build a peaceful and stable environment for the new era, a new era of development for each country. The fact that our two countries are constantly promoting the good and healthy development of Vietnam-China relations, making joint efforts to control and resolve disagreements on the basis of high-level common perception, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, is an important stabilizing factor in the international and regional situation that is experiencing many complex and unpredictable changes today, in line with the tradition and common aspirations of both peoples for peace, friendship, and cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity of each country.

During his state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping summarized in depth: "Both China and Vietnam are responsible members of the international community. The two countries should become a key force to promote the progressive cause of humanity".

Based on the tradition of 75 years of friendship, with many cultural similarities and interests in peace and development of the two peoples, the two Parties, the two countries and the two peoples, we are confident and determined to promote the glorious and great cause, continue to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, promote the building of the Vietnam - China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, develop the country quickly and sustainably; successfully build socialism in each country, firmly enter a new era of development.

The success of the friendship between our two Parties and two countries not only brings happiness and best serves the interests of the people of the two countries, but also contributes more and more practically and responsibly to peace, stability, social progress and prosperous development of peoples in the region and the world".

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