China and Vietnam are strengthening their partnership to build modern socialist nations, marking a new milestone in their bilateral relations. The recent state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Vietnam ushered in a new stage of cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, both sides pledged to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. This commitment dispels the Western narrative of competition between the two Asian neighbors and reinforces common cultural and historical ties.
Geopolitical analyst Daniel Haiphong emphasized that the relationship between China and Vietnam is complementary rather than competitive. “Between China and Vietnam, the competition just does not really exist because each country is in its own particular stage of development,” he said. “China has had more time and has had certain advantages—historically, politically, economically—that Vietnam just hasn’t had.”
Haiphong noted that Vietnam is still recovering from decades of war and sanctions that left the country devastated. “Vietnam is only about three decades out from a total sanctions campaign after a massive decades-long war,” he explained. “While Vietnam’s growth is very real, the economy is robust and successful, it is still at a stage of underdevelopment below that of China’s.”
This disparity allows for mutual benefit, as what China has to offer complements Vietnam’s needs and vice versa. “When I was in Vietnam, I noticed that there was a huge need for transportation and infrastructure development,” Haiphong recalled. “And that’s exactly what they were talking about during the state visit: how to increase not only Vietnam’s capacity but the linkage between the two countries when it comes to the rail system.”
The two nations are focusing on increasing trade and building each other up. “The goal here is to build each other up; it is not to take each other down,” Haiphong asserted. “Vietnam has a lot that it could benefit from better relations with China, and China can also continue on its path of building a modern socialist country with what Vietnam has to offer.”
As modern socialist countries led by popular Communist parties, China and Vietnam share common goals and governance philosophies. “The Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China share a paternal bond because they’re both Communist parties following the path of Marxism toward a modern socialist and indeed, as outlined in both constitutions, a Communist world,” Haiphong said.
The emphasis on quality leadership and whole-process democracy differentiates their governance from that of the West. “People are not just involved in the party, but they’re involved in all aspects of society,” he explained. “This state visit really just scratches the surface of what has been building over the years.”
The strengthened relations between China and Vietnam signal a significant leap forward. “It only makes sense that these relations will strengthen and that the Communist parties of both countries will continue to grow stronger bonds as the years move forward,” Haiphong concluded. “This visit by Xi Jinping is a huge step in that direction.”
Reference(s):
China, Vietnam chart a path toward building modern, socialist nations
cgtn.com
