Le Hoai Trung: Vietnam regards developing relations with China as the top priority of its foreign policy

The heads of the international departments of the communist parties of China and Vietnam held an important meeting on March 18, in Jilin, north-east China, to further consolidate and develop the new stage in China-Vietnam friendly relations initiated with the respective visits of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary Xi Jinping in 2022 and 2023.

Meeting his Vietnamese counterpart, Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Head of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV Central Committee, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), said that General Secretary Xi Jinping successfully paid a state visit to Vietnam last December, during which he and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong established a new positioning of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and made strategic plans for China-Vietnam relations at the new historical juncture, which have become an epoch-making milestone in the history of China-Vietnam relations. This year is the start for both sides to fully implement the results of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam and promote the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Liu added that as the world is currently in a new period of turbulence and change, China and Vietnam are facing both important development opportunities and many severe challenges. Both sides should grasp the distinctive characteristics of China-Vietnam relations, highlight the political nature of exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, and give full play to mechanisms such as the high-level meeting between the two parties. Both sides should focus on the future and destiny of socialism, promote the upgrading of theoretical discussions and strengthen cadre training cooperation.

Centring around the common concept of putting people first, both sides need to deepen exchanges and cooperation between publicity departments, media outlets, trade union, youth, women, and other mass organisations. Besides, Liu called on both sides to keep pace with the development of the international landscape, well implement the political consensus of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries on maritime issues, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral political party activities in the world and the region, and make the international order and global governance system more just and equitable. The Chinese side, Liu said, speaks highly of Vietnam’s achievements made since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and is happy to see Vietnam increasingly playing an important and positive role in the international community.

Le Hoai Trung said, the Vietnamese side has been paying close attention to and is sincerely happy for the great development achievements of brotherly China. He believed that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China will continue to make new development achievements and new contributions to regional and international development. Vietnam regards developing relations with China as the top priority of its foreign policy. It firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports China’s great cause of national reunification, and rejects external forces’ intervention in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of the question of Taiwan, and issues of Xinjiang, Xizang [Tibet], and Hong Kong, etc. It actively supports the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by the Chinese side, and is ready to work together to promote their implementation.

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) further reported that they agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges and meetings, further promote the effectiveness of party-to-party relations in setting strategic orientations for the countries’ ties, and to step up exchanges and cooperation between the two governments, parliaments, and fatherland front organisations. They agreed to strengthen ties in defence and security as well as between the two countries’ localities, foster people-to-people interaction, and increase communications regarding the traditional friendship between the two parties, countries, and peoples.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the IDCPC and by the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân

Liu Jianchao Meets with Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee and Head of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV Central Committee

Jilin, March 18th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), held here today a meeting between the foreign departments of the two Parties with Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Head of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV Central Committee. 

Liu said, General Secretary Xi Jinping successfully paid a state visit to Vietnam last December, during which he and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong announced the establishment of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. They established a new positioning of relations between the two Parties and the two countries, and made strategic plans for China-Vietnam relations at the new historical juncture, which have become an epoch-making milestone in the history of China-Vietnam relations. This year is the start for both sides to fully implement the results of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam and promote the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. As the departments responsible for the external affairs of the two Parties, the IDCPC and the Commission for External Relations of the CPV Central Committee must play a role in overall coordination, follow-up, supervision, and service, to help all departments and localities of the two sides implement the important consensus of the top leaders of the two Parties. 

Liu said, as the world is currently in a new period of turbulence and change, China and Vietnam are facing both important development opportunities and many severe challenges. The CPC is willing to, on the basis of the new positioning of China-Vietnam relations, work with the CPV to promote the high-quality development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries to better benefit the two peoples. Both sides should grasp the distinctive characteristics of China-Vietnam relations, highlight the political nature of exchanges and cooperation between the two Parties, and give full play to the roles such as the high-level meeting mechanism between the two Parties. Both sides should focus on the future and destiny of socialism, promote the upgrading of theoretical discussion mechanisms, and strengthen cadre training cooperation. Aiming for the development and prosperity of each country, both sides need to focus on deepening the convergence of interests and mutual benefits between the two countries and facilitate the docking of the development strategies of the two countries. Centering around the common concept of putting people first, both sides need to deepen exchanges and cooperation between publicity departments, media outlets, trade union, youth and women and other mass organizations. Besides, Liu called on both sides to keep pace with the development of the international landscape, well implement the political consensus of the leaders of the two Parties and the two countries on maritime issues, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral political party activities in the world and the region, and make the international order and global governance system more just and equitable. The Chinese side speaks highly of Vietnam’s achievements made since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and is happy to see Vietnam increasingly playing an important and positive role in the international community. China’s “Two Sessions” depicted a bright future for China’s economic development. And Liu believed the “Two Sessions” would also provide new development opportunities for countries around the world, including Vietnam. 

Le Hoai Trung said he was very happy to lead a CPV delegation to visit China, especially to meet with the Chinese side in the beautiful Jilin Province. The main purpose of this visit is to promote the implementation of the important consensus of the leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, particularly the consensus of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to China after the 20th CPC National Congress and the state visit to Vietnam paid by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of last year. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam is of great historical significance and has opened up a new stage in the development of relations between the two Parties and two countries. The Vietnamese side is willing to work with the Chinese side to promote the construction of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future for constant and fruitful results. 

Le Hoai Trung said, the Vietnamese side has been paying close attention to and is sincerely happy for the great development achievements of brotherly China. He congratulated China on the successful holding of the “Two Sessions” and believed that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China will continue to make new development achievements and new contributions to regional and international development. Vietnam regards developing relations with China as the top priority of its foreign policy. It firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports China’s great cause of national reunification, and rejects external forces’ intervention in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of the question of Taiwan, and issues of Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong, etc. It actively supports the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by the Chinese side, and is ready to work with Chinese side to promote the implementation of them. Currently, Vietnam is stepping up efforts to implement the strategic arrangements made by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and actively preparing for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Vietnamese side is willing to maintain regular high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, consolidate political mutual trust between the two sides, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning of theoretical and practical experiences in party building and state governance, promote exchanges between departments of the central committees, departments at local level and enterprises, and promote economic, trade and people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and properly manage, control and handle maritime differences, so as to create a sound environment for the comprehensive, in-depth and sustainable development of Vietnam-China relations. 

Han Fuchun, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Head of the Jilin Department of United Front Work, Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, Tran Duc Thang, Member of the CPV Central Committee and Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee, and others were present.  


Vietnamese, Chinese parties’ strategic advisory bodies on external relations enhance cooperation

Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, held talks with Liu Jianchao, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPC Central Committee’s International Liaison Department, in Jilin province on March 18.

The talks formed part of the CPV delegation’s visit to China at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee.

The two sides informed each other about the situation of each Party and country while looking back on the important strides in the Vietnam – China relations since the historic visits by CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in late 2022 and by CPC General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to Vietnam in late 2023.

They discussed orientations for realising the common perceptions reached by the senior leaders, continuing to intensify and elevate the countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building the Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, and making efforts for the sake of the two peoples’ happiness as well as peace and progress of the humankind.

The officials agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges and meetings, further promote the effectiveness of Party-to-Party relations to set strategic orientations for the countries’ ties, and step up exchanges and cooperation between the two Governments, parliaments, and fatherland front organisations. They agreed to strengthen ties in defence – security and between the two countries’ localities, foster people-to-people interaction, and increase communications about the traditional friendship between the two Parties, countries, and peoples.

As the two strategic advisory bodies in terms of external relations of the two Parties, the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and the CPC Central Committee’s International Liaison Department will boost coordination to help promote their Parties’ strategic orientations for continuing to develop the Vietnam – China relations in a healthy, stable, and sustainable manner, they noted.

Trung affirmed that in its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, Vietnam views the development of relations with China as the top priority and a strategic choice.

Noting China’s consideration of Vietnam as a priority orientation in its neighbourhood foreign policy, Liu stated developing the cooperation and friendship with Vietnam is a strategic choice of his country, which supports Vietnam to maintain its strategic self-reliance and play a greater role in the region and the world.

With regard to sea-related issues, Trung asked the two sides to consolidate the common perception on the importance of maintaining peace and stability at sea, coordinating to satisfactorily resolve sea-related issues in line with the high-level common perceptions, and settling differences by peaceful means and in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides need to bring into play the negotiation mechanisms on sea-related issues, seriously and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote the building of a substantive and efficient code of conduct in the waters (COC) that matches international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, he added.

During his stay in Jilin, Trung is set to meet with Jing Junhai, Secretary of the provincial CPC Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Congress, to discuss ways to bolster economic, trade, investment, cultural, and tourism ties between Jilin and Vietnamese localities. He will also visit some local economic and cultural establishments.

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