China and Vietnam have successfully seen out 2025, designated as their Year of People-to-People Exchanges marking the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, with a varied series of activities.
Chinese and Vietnamese troops conducted a joint border patrol on December 25. Under the rotational mechanism, this joint patrol was chaired by the Chinese side. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening coordination mechanisms, jointly combating cross-border violations, promoting rapid handover mechanisms, ensuring a safe border environment, facilitating customs clearance at border gates, and enhancing friendship exchanges and cooperation.
On December 23, a special exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh in China opened at the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum in Chongqing.
Held under the theme “The Revolutionary Path,” the exhibition is structured into four sections focusing on organisational building, the shared struggle against a common enemy and foreign aggression, mutual support, and the joint creation of a glorious chapter in history.
Featuring more than 230 historical photographs and valuable archival images, the exhibition vividly retraces President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life while reflecting a special and memorable period in Vietnam-China relations. During his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh made many visits and spent much time in China, including an important period in Hongyan village in Chongqing, which housed the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the representative office of the Eighth Route Army in Chongqing.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General in Chongqing Bui Nguyen Long underlined the exhibition’s special significance as it coincides with the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations.
The exhibition, he said, will help the two peoples, particularly the younger generation, gain a deeper understanding of the heroic and illustrious chapters of Vietnam-China traditional friendship.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum, in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, introduced a coffee product named “Comrades and Brothers.” Made from Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans sourced from Buon Ma Thuot and buffalo milk from China’s Guangxi region, the product aims to further spread the positive values of Vietnam-China relations among communities in western China.
In an interview published on December 24, Professor Wang Yong, Director of the Centre for International Political Economy at Peking University, said that Vietnam-China relations are maintaining strong and comprehensive momentum and have reached an “unprecedented height” while entering a new phase of development with prospects for broader and deeper cooperation.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in China, Wang said that since the start of 2025, the two countries have carried out a wide range of activities to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, including the high-level visits and exchanges, as well as cooperation initiatives between the two sides’ ministries, sectors and localities. He noted that the high frequency of contacts at various levels reflects the strong impetus behind bilateral ties and demonstrates that overall relations are being promoted in a highly positive and substantive manner.
Looking ahead, Wang affirmed that Vietnam-China relations are entering what he described as a “golden period” of cooperation. He predicted that the two sides will continue to maintain high-level exchanges, expand partnerships in infrastructure, energy, innovation, and science and technology, while further promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities.
On December 21, in Beijing, in an atmosphere imbued with warm friendship, the program, “Vietnam Culture Day in China” was held at the China National Opera House. This was the concluding event of a series of exchange activities marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2025. More than 1,000 people attended.
In terms of economic relations between the two countries a special place is taken by Hong Kong.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc had a meeting with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu on December 19 as part of his working visit.
During the meeting, Phoc extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent apartment fire in Hong Kong. He congratulated Hong Kong on the successful organisation of the eighth Legislative Council (LegCo) election on December 7. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s firm support for the “one country, two systems” policy, the Basic Law and related regulations of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong’s prosperous development and the well-being of its people.
Welcoming Deputy PM Phoc and the Vietnamese government delegation, Chief Executive John Lee expressed confidence that the visit would significantly promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Hong Kong, mainland China and Vietnam. He underscored the importance of advancing bilateral relations across various fields, thereby contributing to enriching the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. He reaffirmed the strong confidence of both the Hong Kong administration and business community in Vietnam’s potential, development prospects and the future of relations between the HKSAR and Vietnam.
The Hong Kong side expressed its readiness to share experience in financial and monetary policy management, particularly in the establishment and operation of a gold exchange. It also pledged to promote strategic connectivity and encourage Hong Kong businesses to invest in large-scale infrastructure connectivity, innovation, the digital economy, green and circular economies, and energy transition, while supporting the linkage of the two stock markets and assisting Vietnamese enterprises seeking listings in Hong Kong.
Commending the academic achievements of Vietnamese students at leading Hong Kong universities, John Lee said Hong Kong was willing to offer additional scholarships to outstanding Vietnamese students. He also expressed a desire to expand cooperation in culture, education, tourism and labour, and to enhance coordination within multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms of which both sides are members.
The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân.
Vietnamese, Chinese soldiers conduct joint border patrol
December 25 (Nhân Dân) – The Border Guard Command of Viet Nam’s Lai Chau province, and the Honghe Border Management Detachment and the Jinshuihe Immigration Inspection Station of China conducted a joint border patrol on December 25.
Under the rotational mechanism, this joint patrol was chaired by the Chinese side. Both sides established a joint patrol command, each forming three land patrol teams and two liaison teams to conduct joint patrols along the border section from Marker No. 29 to Marker No. 71.
The patrol was carried out in two time frames, lasting a total of seven hours. During the operation, both sides deployed three working teams with 48 officers and soldiers, used six vehicles, held 12 on-site meetings, distributed 300 information leaflets, provided outreach to 300 border residents, and patrolled a total distance of 150 km.
The joint patrol command reviewed the results and exchanged information on recent border developments. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening coordination mechanisms, jointly combating cross-border violations, promoting rapid handover mechanisms, ensuring a safe border environment, facilitating customs clearance at border gates, and enhancing friendship exchanges and cooperation.
The two sides will maintain information exchange through correspondence and hotlines to promptly handle border-related incidents; intensify patrols, inspections, and enforcement against illegal entry and exit, human trafficking, smuggling, and other violations; and ensure security and order in the border areas. They will also strengthen communication on laws and border policies to raise legal awareness and border protection responsibility among border residents, helping reduce violations.
President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career exhibition opens in Chongqing
December 24 (Nhân Dân) – A themed exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh in China opened at the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum in Chongqing on December 23.
Held under the theme “The Revolutionary Path,” the exhibition is structured into four sections focusing on organisational building, the shared struggle against a common enemy and foreign aggression, mutual support, and the joint creation of a glorious chapter in history.
Featuring more than 230 historical photographs and valuable archival images, the exhibition vividly retraces President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life while reflecting a special and memorable period in Viet Nam–China relations. During his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh made visits to China, including an important period in Hongyan village in Chongqing, which housed the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the representative office of the Eighth Route Army in Chongqing.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General in Chongqing Bui Nguyen Long underlined the exhibition’s special significance as it coincides with the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam–China diplomatic relations.
He noted that the event also contributes to the effective implementation of the Viet Nam–China Year of Humanistic Exchange, serving as a vivid testament to the long-standing friendship and close neighbourliness fostered by generations of leaders from both countries. The exhibition, he said, will help the two peoples, particularly the younger generation, gain a deeper understanding of the heroic and illustrious chapters of Viet Nam–China traditional friendship.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum, in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, introduced a coffee product named “Comrades and Brothers.” Made from Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans sourced from Buon Ma Thuot and buffalo milk from China’s Guangxi region, the product aims to further spread the positive values of Viet Nam–China relations among communities in western China.
Viet Nam – China relations reach ‘unprecedented height’, enter new development phase: Chinese scholar
December 24 (Nhân Dân) – Viet Nam – China relations are maintaining strong and comprehensive momentum and have reached an “unprecedented height” while entering a new phase of development with prospects for broader and deeper cooperation, said Professor Wang Yong, Director of the Centre for International Political Economy at Peking University.
Speaking to the Viet Nam News Agency correspondent in China, Wang said that since the start of 2025, the two countries have carried out a wide range of activities to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, including the high-level visits and exchanges, as well as cooperation initiatives between the two sides’ ministries, sectors and localities. He noted the high frequency of contacts at various levels reflects the strong impetus behind bilateral ties and demonstrates that overall relations are being promoted in a highly positive and substantive manner.
One of the most notable recent highlights in Viet Nam – China relations, according to the scholar, is the sharp increase in people-to-people exchanges. Cultural interactions, economic cooperation, and connectivity between their business communities, localities, and educational and research institutions have become increasingly frequent and in-depth, he said.
Wang stressed that the close bonds between the peoples of Viet Nam and China, likened to those of close neighbours, constitute a vital socio-cultural foundation for the stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations.
Assessing economic cooperation, he observed that Viet Nam and China have a high degree of complementarity in trade and investment structures, providing favourable conditions for continued growth in economic and trade exchanges. Beyond traditional trade, he said, there remains substantial potential for cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, education, culture, science and technology, and research and development (R&D).
These areas, he noted, align well with broader trends in regional economic integration and meet the respective development needs of the countries.
Turning to Viet Nam’s foreign policy, Wang highly valued the country’s balanced and flexible approach in managing relations with major partners amid an increasingly complex international environment. He said this approach has not only helped enhance Viet Nam’s international standing but also created favourable conditions for attracting investment, expanding exports, and promoting deeper economic integration into the world.
At the same time, Viet Nam’s role as a “bridge” in the region continues to be strengthened, effectively supporting its national development and modernisation process, the scholar added.
Looking ahead, Wang affirmed that Viet Nam – China relations are entering what he described as a “golden period” of cooperation.
He predicted that the two sides will continue to maintain high-level exchanges, expand partnerships in infrastructure, energy, innovation, and science and technology, while further promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities in the coming time.
Viet Nam Culture Day in China closes Viet Nam–China People-to-People Exchange Year 2025
December 22 (Nhân Dân) – On December 21, in Beijing, in a solemn atmosphere imbued with warm friendship, the programme “Viet Nam Culture Day in China” was held at the China National Opera House.
The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam and the Embassy of Viet Nam in China, aiming to promote the distinctive cultural beauty of the country and people of Viet Nam to Chinese and international friends.
This was the concluding event of a series of meaningful and successful exchange activities marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam–China diplomatic relations and the Viet Nam–China People-to-People Exchange Year 2025.
The event attracted the participation of more than 1,000 delegates.
The art programme “Colours of Culture” presented a vivid picture, blending traditional Vietnamese singing, dancing and music rich in national identity with contemporary creativity, together with several representative Chinese artistic works.
With skilful performances by People’s Artists and Meritorious Artists from the Viet Nam Contemporary Arts Theatre and the Viet Nam National Academy of Music, along with the participation of renowned voices such as diva My Linh and soprano Dao To Loan, the performance night became a powerful emotional bridge. It not only praised traditional neighbourly friendship but also conveyed positive messages, creating further momentum for Viet Nam–China cultural exchange in the coming period.
Alongside the art programme, the photo exhibition “Viet Nam – the World’s Leading Heritage Destination” vividly introduced Viet Nam’s extremely rich heritage treasure to international friends.
With more than 70 UNESCO titles (nine World Heritage sites, 17 Intangible Cultural Heritage elements, 11 Documentary Heritage items, 11 Biosphere Reserves, four Global Geoparks and four Creative Cities), Viet Nam emerged as a destination that harmoniously combines preservation of cultural identity, environmental protection and sustainable development. The photographs not only honoured the beauty of the country and people of Viet Nam but also helped affirm Viet Nam’s solid position on the global heritage map.
Viet Nam, Hong Kong (China) enhance trade, finance, investment cooperation
December 20 (Nhân Dân) – Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc had a meeting with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu on December 19 as part of his working visit to Hong Kong, China.
During the meeting, Phoc extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent apartment fire in Hong Kong.
He congratulated Hong Kong on the successful organisation of the eighth Legislative Council election. He reaffirmed Viet Nam’s firm support for the “one country, two systems” policy, the Basic Law and related regulations of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong’s prosperous development and and the well-being of its people.
The Deputy PM encouraged Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to further strengthen and deepen friendly exchanges and comprehensive cooperation with Hong Kong in areas including the economy, trade, investment, finance and tourism.
Welcoming Deputy PM Phoc and the Vietnamese government delegation, Chief Executive John Lee expressed confidence that the visit would significantly promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Hong Kong, mainland China and Viet Nam. He underscored the importance of advancing bilateral relations across various fields, thereby contributing to enriching the China–Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
He reaffirmed the strong confidence of both the Hong Kong administration and business community in Viet Nam’s potential, development prospects and the future of relations between the HKSAR and Viet Nam.
To further strengthen cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the common perceptions reached by senior leaders of Viet Nam and China, as well as the outcomes of exchanges between Vietnamese and Hong Kong leaders. Priorities include increasing exchanges and visits at all levels, promoting cooperation frameworks, and expanding and improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in trade, investment and finance.
The Hong Kong side expressed its readiness to share experience in financial and monetary policy management, particularly in the establishment and operation of a gold exchange. It also pledged to promote strategic connectivity and encourage Hong Kong businesses to invest in large-scale infrastructure connectivity, innovation, the digital economy, green and circular economies, and energy transition, while supporting the linkage of the two stock markets and assisting Vietnamese enterprises seeking listings in Hong Kong.
Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination in citizen protection, judicial cooperation and law enforcement, and to further facilitate the Vietnamese community in Hong Kong.
Commending the academic achievements of Vietnamese students at leading Hong Kong universities, John Lee said Hong Kong was willing to offer additional scholarships to outstanding Vietnamese students. He also expressed a desire to expand cooperation in culture, education, tourism and labour, and to enhance coordination within multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms of which both sides are members.
While in Hong Kong, the Vietnamese Deputy PM also met Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Sunwah Group and VinaCapital. The group praised Viet Nam’s investment environment, particularly policies on establishing an International Financial Centre (IFC), and affirmed its readiness to invest in the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City and connect Chinese and Hong Kong investors in emerging areas such as green finance and digital assets.
From December 17 to 19, the delegation conducted surveys in Shanghai and Hong Kong, holding working sessions with the World Gold Council, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Futures Exchange, and the Hong Kong Gold Exchange to exchange experience on establishing and operating a gold exchange and to study the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
