In a landmark state visit from December 12 to 13, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, visited Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.
This significant trip marks the first visit by the top leader of the CPC to Vietnam since the 20th CPC National Congress and coincides with the 15th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam. It follows one year after the visit to China by the top leader of the CPV in October 2022.
During the visit, Xi Jinping held talks with Nguyen Phu Trong after a welcome ceremony. The two sides announced a new positioning of relations between the two parties and countries, agreeing to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. This agreement is based on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.
Despite global economic challenges in recent years, cooperation between China and Vietnam has experienced a remarkable upward trajectory. China has consistently been Vietnam’s foremost trading partner for years, while Vietnam has become China’s largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the fourth-largest trading partner globally after the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
Bilateral trade volume surged from $2 billion in 2000 to $50 billion in 2012, demonstrating a 25-fold increase. In 2017, it exceeded $100 billion, and by 2021 and 2022, trade volume surpassed the $200 billion mark. Meanwhile, China’s investment in Vietnam has risen more than tenfold to $25 billion over the past 15 years. In 2023, China ranks fourth among countries and regions investing in Vietnam.
The elevation of ties between China and Vietnam signifies a commitment to mutual development and cooperation. As both countries navigate the complexities of the global economic landscape, their strengthened partnership is poised to contribute significantly to regional stability and prosperity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
