At its first session, held in Hanoi on April 7, the 16th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam elected To Lam, who is the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to serve concurrently as state president.
In combining the top posts of the party and state in the same individual, the political arrangements of Vietnam in this regard now mirror those of China, Laos, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Cuba.
In a message of congratulations sent the same day, To Lam’s Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping noted that China and Vietnam are a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. In recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Vietnam relations have achieved leapfrog development, and the comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
Xi added that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and stands ready to work with To Lam to advance development and national rejuvenation, promote steady progress in the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, continuously strengthen their respective socialist causes, and better benefit the two peoples.
On April 9, it was announced that To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. This will be his first foreign visit since becoming head of state.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that: “China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development.”
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi congratulates To Lam on election as president of Vietnam
BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended on Tuesday congratulations to To Lam on his election as president of Vietnam.
Noting that China and Vietnam are a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said that in recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Vietnam relations have achieved leapfrog development, and the comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained high-level strategic communication and continuously advanced all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, fully demonstrating the profound friendship of “comrades plus brothers,” he said.
Xi stressed that, in the face of accelerating changes unseen in a century, stronger unity and coordination between China and Vietnam serve the common interests of both parties and countries.
Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and stands ready to work with To Lam to advance development and national rejuvenation, promote steady progress in the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, continuously strengthen respective socialist causes, and better benefit the two peoples, so as to inject greater stability and positive energy into the region and the wider world.
Also on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Le Minh Hung on his election as prime minister of Vietnam.
Li said that he stands ready to work with Le Minh Hung to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries as the fundamental guidance, accelerate the building of a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation framework, and make positive contributions to advancing the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Vietnam’s top leader To Lam to visit China from April 14 to 17
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) — At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17.
Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson for the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the announcement in Beijing on Thursday.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning introduced relevant arrangements for Lam’s visit at a regular press briefing.
During the visit, Xi will hold talks with Lam. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning will hold separate meetings with him, according to Mao.
In April 2025, General Secretary and President Xi paid a successful state visit to Vietnam, ushering in a new stage for the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Mao said.
Noting that China is the first country that General Secretary Lam will visit following his election as president, Mao pointed out that it fully shows the great significance attached to developing relations between the two parties and two countries.
“China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development,” Mao said.
