In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, China and Vietnam have renewed their commitment to building a community with a shared future. The renewed vow comes amid a surge in economic and trade exchanges between the two neighbors, highlighting the deepening cooperation in various sectors.
Since its launch in 2017, the China-Vietnam freight train service departing from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has seen exponential growth. Initially operating fewer than five trains per month, the service reported a record shipment last month, with 1,922 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods transported. This volume surpassed the total shipment for the first quarter of 2024, signaling a robust increase in cross-border trade.
“I have been in the business of cross-border trade by rail for five years. My feeling is that economic and trade exchanges between China and Vietnam are much more active this year,” said Yang Bo, a logistics director of a freight company in Guangxi.
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese president, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. During the meeting, Xi emphasized China’s readiness to work with Vietnam to accelerate the “hard connectivity” of railway, expressway, and port infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing the “soft connectivity” of smart customs and jointly building a secure and stable industrial and supply chain.
At this critical stage of national development and revitalization, Xi stressed that China and Vietnam should, under the vision of building a community with a shared future, consolidate a development pattern featuring six key aspects: higher political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, stronger public support, closer multilateral coordination and cooperation, and better management and resolution of differences.
To Lam affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to these goals, stating that his party and government will, in accordance with the six major objectives, deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. He emphasized advancing the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance for both countries.
The announcement to build this community was initially made in December 2023, marking a new chapter in China-Vietnam relations. The renewed commitment underscores the dedication of both nations to foster cooperation and mutual development, setting a strong foundation for future collaborations.
Reference(s):
China and Vietnam renew vow to build a community with a shared future
cgtn.com
