Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

At the invitation of me and President Liang Qiang of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, paid a State visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15, 2025, in the year when the people of the two countries joyfully celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - January 18, 2025) and the Year of Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange.

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

As the supreme leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China who has visited Vietnam the most in history, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is a sincere comrade and a close friend of Vietnam. The Party, State and people of Vietnam warmly welcome and believe that the visit will definitely be a great success, making a great and important contribution to strongly promoting the tradition of friendship and opening a new era of development in Vietnam-China relations.

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

Vietnam and China are two close neighboring countries, connected by mountains and rivers. The people of the two countries have many similarities in culture and customs, and together they have cultivated a long-standing traditional friendship spanning thousands of years of history.

During the revolutionary journey that was closely linked from the beginning with countless difficulties, generations of senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries, directly President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong, have constantly worked hard to cultivate the "close Vietnam-China relationship, both as comrades and brothers". During many years of revolutionary activities in China, President Ho Chi Minh always received precious affection and enthusiastic help from 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 side by side, sharing joys and sorrows between the senior revolutionaries of the two countries is a shining example in the revolutionary struggle movement of the world proletariat, laying a solid foundation for the Vietnam-China friendship in the future.

On the basis of the trust relationship between the two Communist Parties, on January 18, 1950, shortly after its establishment, the People's Republic of China became the first country in the world to officially establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Vietnam was also the first Southeast Asian country to officially establish diplomatic relations with China. This was 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 sincere and wholehearted help and support, contributing to the victory and success of the national liberation revolution and the cause of national construction and development in the direction of socialism in each country.

Over the past 75 years, peace, friendship and cooperation for development have always been the main stream in the relationship between the two countries, because the two Parties and the two countries share an unchanging common perception that the stable, sustainable and long-term development of the Vietnam-China friendship and cooperation is a fundamental and long-term interest, an earnest aspiration for generations 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 have always persistently and consistently given top priority and determined to work with the Party and State of China to develop the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future, which has strategic significance, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of all mankind. The Vietnamese people never forget the great and effective assistance of the Chinese people in historical periods. Vietnam always considers China's prosperous development as an opportunity for itself, and is pleased and appreciates China's affirmation of prioritizing the development of relations with Vietnam in neighborly diplomacy and considers this a strategic choice of both countries.

From those important common perceptions, the Vietnam-China relationship has been continuously promoted to new heights in recent years, achieving many important and comprehensive achievements and marks in all fields. The senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries have maintained regular strategic exchanges in many flexible forms, promptly making important decisions to orient and shape the continuous development of the Vietnam-China relationship to become more substantive and effective. Most recently, the two countries agreed to elevate the relationship to a Community of Shared Future, which has strategic significance during the historic visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (December 2023).

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

Economic and trade relations have been growing steadily, bringing many practical benefits to the people of the two countries. Over the past three decades, bilateral trade turnover has grown by more than 6,400 times, reaching a new peak of over 200 billion USD by 2024. Vietnam remains 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 exchange, culture, education, and tourism between the two countries have achieved many encouraging achievements, are increasingly vibrant, and have become new bright spots contributing to consolidating a more solid social foundation for Vietnam-China relations. It can be said that the friendship between the people of the two countries is increasingly close, as the image that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping once summarized very concisely is "small streams flowing forever, converging into a vast river of friendship between the two countries".

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

For the relations between the two Parties and two countries to develop well and comprehensively as they are today, the most important lesson is the sincerity, trust and mutual understanding between the two socialist neighbors under the leadership of the Communist Party, deeply rooted in the tradition of humanity and respect for human relations of the two peoples; the intellectual vision, determination and action of generations of leaders of the two Parties and two countries; and the joint efforts and participation of the political systems and people of the two countries. The Party, State and people of Vietnam respect and appreciate the sentiments, enthusiasm and especially important great contributions of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to the Vietnam-China relationship over the past many 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 enormous, fundamental changes of the times, profound changes in all aspects under the impact of major shifts in politics, economics, culture, society and science and technology. From now until 2030 and looking further to 2045, as well as to 2050, the middle of the 21st century - key moments associated with major milestones in the revolutionary career of the two Parties and two countries, are the most important stages to shape the new world order, opening up great opportunities and many challenges for countries.

For Vietnam, this is a period of important strategic opportunity, a sprint stage to create a new era of national development and to realize President Ho Chi Minh's will of "building a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, and making a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause". For China, this is a key period and a stepping stone in realizing the second 100-year goal of building the People's Republic of China into a modern socialist power that is prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful.

The above context requires both countries to have an international vision and national action to make the most of strategic opportunities, turn challenges into opportunities and build a prosperous future for both countries. We have enough foundation and confidence to realize the long-term development goals of each country, and now is a favorable time for the two Parties and two countries to jointly define a vision for a new era of development of Vietnam-China relations, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity. Specifically as follows:

Firstly, maintaining strategic exchanges and enhancing political trust. This is the most important issue, the premise for successfully implementing programs, plans and cooperation agreements between the two sides, ensuring the political development of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and China in the right and healthy direction. The two sides continue to effectively implement high-level exchange and contact mechanisms, closely and smoothly combine the channels of party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy; improve the effectiveness and enhance 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 substantive, profound, balanced and sustainable, becoming a model of sincere and effective cooperation between two socialist and developing neighboring countries, increasingly meeting the interests of the people of the two countries. The two sides together think creatively about new forms of cooperation, in line with the key orientations of each country's socio-economic development strategy; focus on implementing major projects, new symbols of cooperation in Vietnam-China relations, in which the implementation of three 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, and high-quality human resource training, to become new bright spots in bilateral cooperation, in line with the general development trend of the world.

Third, further consolidate the favorable social foundation for Vietnam-China relations. In the phone call earlier this year, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and I jointly announced the launch of the Vietnam-China Year of Humanitarian Exchange 2025. This is the most appropriate time to promote people-to-people exchanges and enhance propaganda about the friendly relations between the two Parties, the two countries and the two peoples; promote substantive cooperation in culture, tourism, education and training; effectively promote the "red" relics bearing the revolutionary imprints of both countries in both Vietnam and China to enhance the pride and confidence of the people of the two countries in 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 the affection and understanding between the two peoples, helping the two countries to bond more closely, contributing to promoting cooperation, friendship and mutual benefit.

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

During his State visit to Vietnam in December 2023, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping made a profound conclusion: "Both China and Vietnam are responsible members of the international community. The two countries should become the core forces promoting the cause of human progress". Based on the 75-year historical tradition of friendship, with many cultural similarities and the close-knit interests of peace and development of the two peoples, our two Parties, two countries and two peoples firmly believe and are 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, and 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 makes increasingly practical and responsible contributions to peace, stability, social progress and prosperous development of the peoples in the region and the world.