National Assembly Chairman's visit to China will mark an important milestone

At the invitation of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the People's Republic of China from April 7-12.

On this occasion, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Le Thu Ha gave an interview to the press about the contents related to the visit.

The first high-level visit after the two countries upgraded their relations

What is the significance of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's visit to China this time, Madam?

After 15 years since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and China has continuously expanded and deepened, with cooperation in many fields achieving many positive and comprehensive developments.

The two sides maintained contacts, dialogues and delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits; issued a Joint Statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, agreed to build a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, and made efforts for the interests of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

This is the first high-level visit by Party and State leaders after the two countries upgraded their relations, and also the first visit to China since National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue took office.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held an online meeting with Chairman of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji in March 2023. Photo: QH

Therefore, the visit is of utmost importance, providing strategic direction for bilateral relations, concretizing high-level common perceptions and achievements during the visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (October 2022) and the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary - President Xi Jinping (December 2023) with 6 major cooperation directions, especially promoting "higher political trust", consolidating "a more solid social foundation", contributing to elevating and deepening the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The visit also affirmed the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State that developing relations with China is a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam's overall foreign policy.

In the context of the cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the National People's Congress of China being constantly consolidated and developed, the visit has special significance, contributing to elevating and deepening the relationship between the two legislative bodies, making this relationship an important pillar in the overall relationship between the two Parties and the two States.

How do you evaluate the cooperation between Vietnam and China in recent times, including cooperation between the two legislative bodies?

In recent times, the Vietnam-China relationship has maintained a good development momentum and achieved many important results. High-level exchanges and contacts have taken place closely, contributing to strengthening political trust and strategic orientation; the atmosphere of friendship and trust has spread to all levels, sectors, localities and people's organizations, creating a vibrant exchange and cooperation situation.

Import-export turnover between the two countries in 2023 will reach 172 billion USD. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and largest import market; meanwhile, Vietnam is China's 5th largest trading partner in the world and China's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

China's cumulative investment in Vietnam reached 27.6 billion USD, ranking 6th out of 145 investment partners of Vietnam. Tourism cooperation has gradually recovered. In the first quarter of 2024, Vietnam welcomed 1.75 million Chinese visitors, ranking 2nd among the markets sending visitors to Vietnam.

The issuance of the “Joint Statement on Continuing to Deepen and Enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and Building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future is of strategic significance” by the two sides and the signing of 36 cooperation documents in many fields during the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in late 2023, which is the foundation for developing a stable, healthy, sustainable and long-term bilateral relationship.

In the overall effort to promote “increasingly high political trust”, cooperation between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People’s Congress of China has been continuously consolidated and developed in depth. Leaders of the two sides have maintained high-level exchanges and contacts in many flexible forms.

Notably, Mr. Zhao Leji's first foreign activity after being elected as Chairman of the National People's Congress of China was an online meeting with National Assembly Chairman Wang Tinghui (March 2023), discussing many major cooperation directions in the relationship between the two countries.

In addition, exchanges and cooperation between specialized committees and friendship parliamentary groups have achieved many positive results. The two sides have also maintained contact, consultation and close coordination at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

lethuha 1.jpeg — Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Le Thu Ha. Photo: QH

During this visit, the two sides will sign a new Cooperation Agreement to replace the Cooperation Agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People's Congress of China (2015) with new contents such as establishing a parliamentary cooperation mechanism between the two countries; implementing cooperation in training and fostering elected representatives; enhancing the role of the National Assembly/NPC and People's Councils at all levels in promoting bilateral relations.

The signing of the Agreement is an important milestone in the history of relations between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People's Congress of China; creating a legal basis to elevate the level of cooperation between the two legislative bodies, commensurate with the height of relations between the two countries.

Sharing professional experience and experience in the activities of the National Assembly

What are the potential cooperation that the two countries can continue to promote in the coming time, especially through parliamentary diplomacy?

Vietnam and China are two neighboring brotherly countries, sharing many similarities in ideological foundation, the goal of building socialism, persevering under the leadership of the Communist Party, striving for the interests and happiness of the people...

The Party and State of Vietnam attach special importance to developing a stable, healthy, sustainable, and long-term relationship with China, considering this a consistent and continuous policy, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's overall foreign policy.

Through this visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, I believe that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms through Party, Government, and socio-political organizations.

In particular, promoting cooperation potential in all fields according to the 6 identified pillars, focusing on: Strengthening political trust; promoting defense and security cooperation; accelerating the connection of development strategies, expanding and improving the effectiveness of substantive cooperation, especially promoting economic and trade cooperation in a balanced, sustainable and high-quality direction; promoting friendly exchanges, building a good social foundation for bilateral relations.

In particular, through the parliamentary diplomacy channel, with the newly signed Cooperation Agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People's Congress of China, the Office of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Secretariat of the National People's Congress of China will elevate and deepen the relationship between the two legislative bodies, making this relationship an important pillar in the overall relationship between the two Parties and the two States.

Accordingly, the two sides will continue to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels of the National Assembly, National Assembly deputies, and delegations of People's Councils/People's Congresses of the two countries' localities; increase the exchange and sharing of professional experience, experience in the activities of the National Assembly and its agencies, in perfecting the Party's leadership method towards the State, and in building a socialist rule-of-law State.

The two sides will cooperate in building and perfecting institutions and policies for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, protecting the Party, protecting the regime, protecting the environment, and making common contributions to the development of humanity; and enhancing the supervisory role of the two legislative bodies in the implementation of cooperation agreements signed between the two countries.

At the same time, the two sides will promote the role of National Assembly/NPC deputies, especially the Vietnam-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, in promoting friendship, consolidating consensus and building a good social foundation for bilateral relations.

The two sides will coordinate and support each other at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, contributing to further deepening and enhancing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building a community of shared future between Vietnam and China of strategic significance, bringing the relationship between the two Parties and two countries into a new stage, working together to develop healthily, stably and long-term, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.