Vietnam Archives - Friends of Socialist China

Xi meets with leaders of Russia, Laos, Iran, Egypt and Vietnam

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a number of bilateral meetings with fellow leaders in the margins of the BRICS Summit, which was held, October 22-24, in the Russian city of Kazan.

Xi met with his host, President Vladimir Putin on the day of his arrival. He said that China and Russia have found the right way for neighbouring major countries to get along with each other, which features non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Xi said that over the past years, the relationship between the two countries has weathered challenges.

Noting that the world today is facing momentous transformations unseen in a century, resulting in a fast-changing and turbulent international landscape, he expressed confidence that the profound and lasting friendship between China and Russia will not change, nor will their sense of responsibility as major countries for the world and for the people.

Despite complex and severe external challenges, bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade continues to advance, and large-scale joint projects remain stable in operation, he said, adding that both countries should further promote the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union to support their respective high-quality economic development.

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Xi stressed. China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, should deepen comprehensive strategic coordination, strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, promote a correct view of World War II history, firmly uphold the UN-centred international system, and jointly safeguard global strategic stability along with international fairness and justice.

President Vladimir Putin said that thanks to joint efforts from both sides, the Russia-China cooperation, based on equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, continues to advance, and the activities of the Russia-China Years of Culture have been successfully held, adding that Russia stands ready to further deepen cooperation with China and boost the development and revitalisation of both countries.

Noting that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin said that both Russia and China made tremendous sacrifices for victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and that Russia is willing to commemorate this important milestone together with China.

Also on October 22, Xi met with Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), saying that the two sides should continue to strengthen the development of the China-Laos Railway and promote the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor.

As socialist comrades and brothers, the relations with Laos are of special importance in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy, and the two countries have always stayed at the forefront of building a community with a shared future, Xi said, adding that regardless of how the international situation changes, China will always be a trustworthy friend and partner of Laos.

Congratulating Laos on successfully hosting the East Asian Leaders’ meetings on cooperation, the Chinese President said he welcomes Laos’ active participation in BRICS cooperation.

Thongloun Sisoulith said that he went to China last year to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and signed with Xi a new version of the action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future, which is being implemented effectively at present.

Laos-China relations are at their best in history, with bilateral cooperation expanding in depth and breadth, he added.

The following day, Xi met with the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and said that no matter how the international and regional situations change, China will unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with Iran.

China and Vietnam reaffirm spirit of being good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners

Following his October 9-12 visit to Laos, where he also took part in a series of regional meetings, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Vietnam from October 12-14, at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh. It was Li Qiang’s first visit to the country since he assumed office and the first by a Chinese Premier in 11 years. Moreover, the visit marks a further chapter in the current intense program of high-level bilateral exchanges between the two socialist neighbours.

In his statement on arrival, Li Qiang said that the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam has a long and enduring history, adding that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have been developing steadily.

Since the beginning of the year, the two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, and the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future has started well.

In August, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, held talks with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese President, when the two leaders made a strategic blueprint for comprehensively advancing the China-Vietnam community with a shared future under the new circumstances, charting the course for further development of bilateral relations.

In the face of accelerated changes unseen in a century and growing global risks and challenges, China and Vietnam, as companions of socialism, should strengthen unity and coordination and join hands to promote peace and seek common development, Li said.

On the evening of his arrival, To Lam received the Chinese Premier.

Welcoming Li’s first visit to Vietnam as the Premier of China, Lam stressed that the visit is of important significance, as it helps develop the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in a deeper and more substantive and comprehensive direction, meeting the aspirations and common interests of the two countries’ people, for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

On the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, he congratulated the Chinese Party, State, and people on their significant achievements, especially the successful implementation of the reform and open-door policy, which has led to many important accomplishments in socio-economic development.

“Vietnam always considers the development of relations with China as a top priority in its foreign policy,” he stressed.

Congratulating the Vietnamese people on their important achievements under the leadership of the CPV, the Chinese Premier emphasised that his country regards the development of relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy and affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government consistently support Vietnam’s renewal, development, and socialist construction.

In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, the leaders informed each other about the situation of each Party and each country. Lam briefed his guest on major positive results in socio-economic development, Party building and rectification, and the fight against corruption and negative phenomena in Vietnam in the past time, as well as preparations for the 14th National Congress of the CPV, which is identified as an important milestone, opening a new era – the era for realising the goal of successfully building socialism.

Host and guest also reviewed the outstanding achievements in bilateral cooperation in the past time, showing their delight at the important and comprehensive progress of the Vietnam-China relationship. They emphasised that the two sides have seriously and actively implemented the important high-level common perceptions reached during the historic visits of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping in 2022 and 2023 respectively; and the state visit to China by General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and State President To Lam to China in line with the “six major goals” (stronger political trust, more substantial cooperation in defence-security, deeper and more practical cooperation, more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better management and settlement of differences).

Lam and Li agreed to maintain regular exchanges at all levels, especially the high level; effectively promote the channels of party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy; boost cooperation in the fields of defence, security, and foreign affairs; together respond effectively to non-traditional security challenges; and improve the effectiveness of existing mechanisms between the two countries and expand the implementation of new mechanisms.

The top Vietnamese leader said Vietnam welcomes and is willing to create favourable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest in large-scale, advanced technology projects in Vietnam, representing China’s development level and bringing practical benefits to both nations and their people. The Chinese Premier emphasised that China will further open its market to Vietnamese agricultural products and support the neighbouring country in establishing trade promotion offices in China.

Li Qiang met his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on October 13.

Congratulating the Chinese Party, Government and fraternal people on their achievements over the past 75 years, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening and developing its friendly and cooperative relations with China, considering it a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

Vietnam, China issue joint statement

To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, visited China from August 18-20, at the invitation of his counterpart, Xi Jinping, in his first foreign trip since he assumed the top leadership post of the CPV on August 3.

At the conclusion of his visit, the two socialist neighbours issued a joint statement on further strengthening their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future.

The statement notes that: “The Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China are two ruling Communist parties in the world, carrying a historic mission, striving for the happiness of the people, for national development, and for peace and progress of humanity. In the course of struggling for national independence and national liberation, the two parties, two countries and two peoples of Vietnam and China provided assistance and supported each other, establishing the Vietnam-China traditional friendship as both comrades and brothers. This year marks 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh came to Guangdong for revolutionary activities; 2025 sees the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, and the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

“Entering a new era, the two sides will not forget their original aspiration of friendship, and will engrave the common mission, steadfastly pursue the path to socialism and promote modernisation in line with each country’s situation… [they will] promote relations between the two parties and two countries to a new height, strive for the happiness of the people and for strong and prosperous countries, for the development of the socialist cause, and for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.”

The two sides further underlined the need to seriously implement the common understanding and results achieved during the bilateral visits of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, especially the two historic visits by late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in 2022 and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam in 2023, along with the Joint Statement on continuing to promote and deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the Joint Statement on continuing to deepen and elevate comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, issued during the two visits.

Further underlining the special role played by the communist party in their bilateral relationship, they agreed to jointly orient the development of the Vietnam-China relationship by fully promoting the special role of the party channel, and to further strengthen the overall coordination role of the exchange and cooperation mechanisms between the two parties, especially high-level meetings, theoretical workshops between the two parties, and exchanges between the two parties’ international departments; improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the respective agencies of the two parties at the central level and party committees at the local level, especially in the provinces and border areas; comprehensively implement theoretical exchanges and experience sharing in party and nation management; jointly deepen awareness of the Communist Party’s governing regulations, the law of building socialism, and the law of human development to serve party building and the development of the socialist cause of each side.

They also affirmed that defence and security cooperation is one of the pillars of Vietnam-China relations. They agree to enhance defence and security cooperation, strengthen exchanges at all levels between the two countries’ armies through channels such as the border defence friendship exchange, and defence and security dialogue, deepen border, naval, and coast guard exchanges; and promote cooperation in areas such as political work, defence industry, mutual visits of naval ships, and United Nations peacekeeping (to which both countries are major contributors). They will also strengthen information exchanges and share experiences on countering interference, combating separatism, preventing ‘colour revolution’, and jointly protect political security and regime security; and expand legal and judicial cooperation to ensure a legal foundation for collaboration in various fields between Vietnam and China.

On enhancing the connectivity of their respective development strategies, they agreed to effectively implement the cooperation plan connecting Vietnam’s ‘Two Corridors, One Belt’ Framework with China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative; and to accelerate ‘hard connectivity’ in terms of railways, expressways and border gate infrastructure. China agreed to provide assistance for Vietnam to develop the planning of the Lang Son – Hanoi and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong standard gauge railway lines, and to develop a Feasibility Study Report for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Haiphong standard gauge railway line.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to preserving the traditional friendship, upholding shared ideals and missions, and consistently promoting popularisation work on the Vietnam-China friendship. The two sides declare 2025 as the ‘Year of Vietnam-China People-to-People Exchange’ and will jointly organise a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China through party, youth and friendly city channels, effectively utilising ‘red relic sites’ in localities such as Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Chongqing, and holding activities in research, education, culture, and tourism in diverse forms.

The two sides agreed to persevere in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the basic norms of international relations, jointly protect the international system with the United Nations as its core and the international order with international law as its foundation, protect international justice, fairness and the common interests of developing countries. Resolutely promoting an equal, orderly multipolar world and comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable economic globalisation, the two sides agree to step up cooperation within the framework of the major initiatives – Community with a Shared Future for Humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative – which aim to protect the common interests of all humanity, advance the cause of peace, justice and progress of people all over the world, and meet the aspirations of people worldwide for a better world.

On outstanding issues that remain between them, the two sides discussed in depth, and in a sincere, straightforward manner, maritime issues, stressing the need for better control and active handling of disagreements at sea, and the maintenance of peace and stability.

The two sides unanimously agreed that the state visit to China of General Secretary and President To Lam is a success, significantly promoting the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance that is conducive to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

To Lam thanked the Chinese side for the warm and friendly welcome and invited Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to visit Vietnam again at an early date. Xi Jinping thanked his counterpart and accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The following is the full text of the joint statement. It was originally published by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

1. At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam paid a state visit to China from August 18 – 20, 2024.

Xi Jinping congratulates To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam

On August 3, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam unanimously elected State President To Lam as its General Secretary following the recent death of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The same day, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sent a warm congratulatory message to To Lam, in which he reiterated that, “China and Vietnam are socialist neighbours linked by mountains and rivers… I am ready to join Comrade General Secretary To Lam in leading the building of an increasingly substantial and in-depth China-Vietnam community with a shared future, jointly promoting the traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, deepening strategic exchanges, boosting substantive cooperation, bringing more happiness to the peoples of the two countries, and actively contributing to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.”

The text of the message was published by the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân and is reprinted below. In its initial reports, Nhân Dân also highlighted the messages from the leaders of Laos, Cambodia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, among others.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulations to State President To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee.

The message reads:

“I am very delighted to learn that you have been elected to the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPV. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and in my own name, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to you.

“Over the recent years, the CPV has thoroughly implemented the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution, focusing on promoting the Party building, and reaping new achievements in boosting the building of socialism and the renewal and open-door cause.

“We believe that, under the steadfast leadership of the CPV Central Committee, the entire Party and people of Vietnam will successfully realise the objectives and tasks set forth by the CPV’s 13th National Congress, steadily promoting the preparations for the 14th National Congress, and continuously moving towards the “two 100-year goals” of the Party and the country’s founding.

“China and Vietnam are socialist neighbours linked by mountains and rivers. Last December, I paid a state visit to Vietnam, during which both sides announced the building of a China-Vietnam Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, opening a new journey and a new chapter in the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries. I am ready to join Comrade General Secretary To Lam in leading the building of an increasingly substantial and in-depth China-Vietnam Community with a shared future, jointly promoting the traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, deepening strategic exchanges, boosting substantive cooperation, bringing more happiness to the peoples of the two countries, and actively contributing to the cause of peace and progress of the mankind.

“Wish you new achievements in your noble position”.

Nguyen Phu Trong made unforgettable contributions to Vietnam–China relations

Since Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), passed away on July 19, the Vietnamese party newspaper Nhân Dân has carried many articles extolling the late leader’s great contributions to the friendly relationship between Vietnam and China, which has socialism at its core.

On July 20, it carried an interview with Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo who said: “Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a person who persisted in Marxism and a great leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.”

He added that: “Nguyen Phu Trong attached special importance to the strengthening of the corruption fight and party building and rectification. Especially after the 13th Congress of the Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has pushed up the corruption fight with a spirit of ‘no off-limits zones’ and reaped many important results, firmly ensuring the maintenance of social order and security and the following of the way to socialism suitable to the situation in the country.”

He described Trong’s well-known strategy of ‘bamboo diplomacy’ as “underlining that sturdy root means consistently following the CPV leadership and the path to socialism. At the same time, it is necessary to be flexible in terms of strategy on the basis of firmly maintaining independence and self-mastery, and actively developing friendly relations with countries in the world. Under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese diplomacy has gained many important achievements as described by the CPV leader that Vietnam ‘has never enjoyed such fortune, power, international standing and prestige as it does today.’”

Moreover, “Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a close comrade and a sincere friend of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. He was the one who inherited and developed the traditional friendship of ‘comradeship and brotherhood’ between the two parties and countries of China and Vietnam, forming a passionate friendship with the Communist Party of China and Chinese leaders.”

Recalling his personal relationship and friendship with Trong, the Ambassador said:

“The event that left the deepest impression on me took place on August 25 last year. At the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I accompanied him in the visit to the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son, which is located at the border between the two countries. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong repeatedly emphasised that the Vietnam-China Friendship border gate is unique in the world, sending out an important message to the people of both countries and the international community on the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.

“Together with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I planted the Vietnam-China friendship tree. The party leader affectionately said: ‘This friendship tree has strong roots like the Vietnam-China relationship. With the care of the people of the two countries, this friendship tree will surely grow strong and healthy.’ That Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong himself promoted the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries made me feel extremely touched.”

On July 23, the paper reported Li Minghan, a Hong Kong-based scholar on Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, as saying that he is extremely saddened by Trong’s passing. It added that:

“Observing and studying Vietnam’s development for more than a decade, Li realised that General Secretary Trong had good and noble virtues of a leader like President Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam’s achievements have had a profound impact on all socialist countries in the world, especially its anti-corruption results in recent years. General Secretary Trong looked small and simple but he was so strong-willed to order the stringent settlement of corrupt officials strictly, even those holding high positions in the party and state leadership.”

Trong also left an extremely good impression of his integrity and simplicity during his whole life devoted to the party, the nation and the people.

Noting that the General Secretary used only an old car for about 20 years while working in various positions, including three terms as the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Li shared that to effectively fight against corruption and negative phenomena, leaders themselves must set good examples first.

Li, who is 80 years old, said that both he and his wife used to learn Vietnamese at Beijing Foreign Studies University. His father-in-law had the honour to prepare a meal for President Ho Chi Minh when he worked at the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. That inspired his interest in studying Vietnam in general and President Ho Chi Minh in particular.

Regarding Vietnam-China relations, Li said that one of the bilateral ties’ highlights under Trong’s leadership is an appropriate and effective foreign policy in harmonising Vietnam’s relations with major countries, as well as strengthening and developing connections with socialist countries and communist parties.

The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân.

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Contributions by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Vietnam – China remain unforgettable

July 20 (Nhân Dân) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong passed away on July 19 afternoon at the age of 80, according to the board of health protection and care for central officials. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo expressed his sentiment and ideas on the late leader following the event.

Reporter: In the great loss of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, how do you assess the role and contributions by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: First of all, I am deeply grieved and would like to express the deepest condolences on the passing away of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China immediately sent its message of condolences to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, respectfully commemorating Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a person who persisted Marxism and a great leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. He was elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Party’s 11th, 12th, and 13th Congresses, and supported and loved by the Vietnamese people. Over the past more than 10 years, he has led the Party, Government, and people of Vietnam in recording many important development achievements. Party General Nguyen Phu Trong is an outstanding politician who has profound perception on the maintenance of the Party’s leadership and the persistence of the way to socialism, leaving deep imprints on me.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attached special importance to the strengthening of the corruption fight and Party building and rectification, especially after the 13th Congress of the Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has pushed up the corruption fight with a spirit of “no off-limits zones” and reaped many important results, firmly ensuring the maintenance of social order and security and the following of the way to socialism suitable to the situation in the country.

Reporter: Over the recent years, Vietnam has pushed up the implementation of the “bamboo diplomacy” featuring strong roots, solid stems, and flexible branches. How do you assess the role of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in shaping and developing this diplomatic policy?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong initiated the persistent implementation of the “bamboo diplomacy”, underlining that sturdy root means consistently following the CPV leadership and the path to socialism. At the same time, it is necessary to be flexible in terms of strategy on the basis of firmly maintaining independence and self-mastery, and actively developing friendly relations with countries in the world. Under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese diplomacy has gained many important achievements as described by the CPV leader that Vietnam “has never enjoyed such fortune, power, international standing and prestige as it does today.”

We found that Vietnam’s diplomacy underscores the priority to developing relations with neighbours and world powers as well as partners sharing traditional friendship. At the same time, Vietnam has persistently supported true multilateralism, attached importance to the protection of international equality and justice, and opposed the interference in internal affairs of other states. China highly evaluates this.

Reporter: What are your comments on the imprints that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left in the Vietnam-China overall relations? During the Vietnam visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late 2023, the two sides established a “new positioning” for bilateral relations, elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. How do you assess Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s contributions to this event?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a close comrade and a sincere friend of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. He was the one who inherited and developed the traditional friendship of “comradeship and brotherhood” between the two Parties and countries of China and Vietnam, forming a passionate friendship with the Communist Party of China and Chinese leaders. Since taking office as the General Secretary of the CPV, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong had made considerable contributions to promoting the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries, especially through the exchange of three historic visits with General Secretary Xi Jinping, during which they oriented the development of relations between the two Parties and countries of China and Vietnam in the new era together.

In the past two years, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China right after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and warmly welcomed General Secretary Xi Jinping last year. The two leaders announced the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, defining a new positioning of the ties between the two countries in the new era, elevating the relations between the two Parties and countries to a new historical height. We recognise, highly appreciate and will never forget this.

Reporter: Could share your impressions on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong? What is the deepest impression the Party General Secretary has left on you?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: I have been the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam for more than five years, and my work has received great assistance and help from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. After taking office in 2018, I was very honoured to present my credentials to General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. This was the first time the Party leader received a foreign ambassador presenting credentials after he had assumed the position of the State President. Since then, I have met with the Party leader many times and had opportunities to listen to his important and profound ideas on developing the relationship between the Parties and countries of Vietnam and China, which has left deep impression on me.

The event that left the deepest impression on me took place on August 25 last year. At the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I accompanied him in the visit to the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son, which is located at the border between the two countries. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong repeatedly emphasised that the Vietnam – China Friendship border gate is unique in the world, sending out an important message to the people of both countries and the international community on the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam. Together with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I planted the Vietnam – China friendship tree. The Party leader affectionately said: “This friendship tree has strong roots like the Vietnam-China relationship. With the care of the people of the two countries, this friendship tree will surely grow strong and healthy.” That Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong himself promoted the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries made me feel extremely touched.

Thank you for your conversation!

Vietnamese Party chief makes life-long dedication to nation: Chinese scholars

23 July (Nhân Dân) — The passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a huge loss to not only the Party, State and people of Vietnam but also international friends, including Chinese scholars who have spent years studying Vietnam.

Li Minghan, a Hong Kong-based scholar on Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, said that he is extremely saddened by the passing of the communist, who is one of respectable Vietnamese leaders.

Observing and studying Vietnam’s development for more than a decade, Li realised that General Secretary Trong had good and noble virtues of a leader like President Ho Chi Minh. Under his leadership, the country has achieved outstanding progress in politics, economy, defence and security, and secured increasing prosperity and happiness for its people.

Li said that Vietnam’s achievements have had a profound impact on all socialist countries in the world, especially its anti-corruption results in recent years. General Secretary Trong looked small and simple but he was so strong-willed to order the stringent settlement of corrupt officials strictly, even those holding high positions in the Party and State leadership.

The leader also left extremely good impression of his integrity and simplicity during his whole life devoted to the Party, the nation and the people.

Noting the General Secretary used only an old car for about 20 years working in various positions, including three terms as the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Li shared that to effectively fight against corruption and negative phenomena, leaders themselves must set good examples first.

The scholar found that General Secretary Trong learned and applied much of the style, virtues and ethics of President Ho Chi Minh, especially the loyalty and dedication to the Party, the State and the people of Vietnam.

Mourning the Vietnamese Party chief, Li was so moved that he made a poem to share with his Vietnamese friends and people in Hong Kong. He held that the General Secretary deserves to be one of President Ho Chi Minh’s excellent disciples.

Meanwhile, Wang Feng who is a former reporter of the Xinhua News Agency, said that she felt down to hear about Trong’s passing. The leader dedicated his entire life to the development of Vietnam as well as the friendship in all fields between the two countries.

Wang shared that she met Trong once and felt that he was very friendly, smart and flexible. There are not many leaders like him.

Researching many works by the General Secretary, she perceived that Trong was a person with a deep theoretical foundation, in terms of both politics and economics. He applied Marxism-Leninism into practice, made great contributions to anti-corruption efforts and economic and cultural development in Vietnam, and promoted the two countries’ exchanges and cooperation.

Under Trong’s leadership, the China – Vietnam relationship has achieved many highly positive results in various fields, especially people-to-people exchanges, Wang added.

Xi’s special representative mourns passing of Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam

Funeral and memorial services for the late Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), who passed away on July 19, were held in the capital, Hanoi over July 25-26.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as the Special Representative of General Secretary Xi Jinping, led a CPC delegation to participate in the mourning activities.

Paying his respects at the National Funeral Hall, on behalf of Xi and the CPC Central Committee, and in the name of Xi’s special representative, Wang laid a wreath, paused to observe a moment of silence before bowing three times to Trong’s coffin, conveyed sincere condolences from Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to Trong’s widow Ngo Thi Man, and left a message in the condolence book.

Meeting with Vietnamese President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Wang expressed deep grief over the passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, saying that after learning the sad news, Xi went to the Embassy of Vietnam in Beijing to pay tribute to the late leader and the CPC Central Committee sent condolences to the CPV Central Committee.

Appointing Wang as Xi’s special representative to lead a CPC delegation for the mourning shows once again the heartfelt grief and sincere condolences of Xi and the CPC Central Committee to the CPV Central Committee and Trong’s family. At this special moment, the party and people of China stand firmly with the party and people of Vietnam, Wang said.

Wang noted that Trong is a staunch Marxist, a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people, and a great friend of the Chinese people. His death is a great loss to the cause of socialism in Vietnam and to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

The Vietnamese leaders said that Vietnam is more determined to follow the national development path established by the older generation of leaders and Trong, stressing that China is the only country that has all the priority factors in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

Vietnam will keep in mind Trong’s entrustment that “so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers,” always give top priority to the development of relations with China, and firmly promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in accordance with the important consensus reached between Trong and Xi.

During his stay in Hanoi, Wang also met with Esteban Lazo Hernandez, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power, who led the Cuban delegation to the condolence activities.

Besides the representatives from China and Cuba, high-level delegations from many parts of the world came to Hanoi to mourn Trong. Those representing other countries with a deep historic connection to the Vietnamese revolution included General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Petr Olegovich Tolstoy, Vice Chairman of the Council of the Republic of Belarus Siarhei Khamenka, Minister of War Veterans and Rights Holders of Algeria Laid Rebiga, and Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Guinea-Bissau Nancy Raisa Cardoso.

On behalf of Friends of Socialist China, our co-editor Keith Bennett visited the Vietnamese Embassy in London to participate in the mourning activities and expressed condolences to Ambassador Do Minh Hung.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

HANOI, July 25 (Xinhua) — As General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, China’s top political advisor Wang Huning led a CPC delegation to Hanoi to mourn the passing of Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), on Thursday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, also met with Vietnamese President To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Xi Jinping mourns passing of Nguyen Phu Trong

On Saturday July 20, Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of the People’s Republic of China, accompanied by other senior Chinese leaders, visited the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Beijing to mourn the passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the previous day.

The Xinhua News Agency said that Xi praised Trong as a staunch Marxist and a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people, adding that he had devoted himself entirely to the CPV and the country, to the Vietnamese people and to the cause of socialism in Vietnam, and had been deeply respected and admired by the party, military and people of Vietnam.

“The passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong has deprived us of a promoter of China-Vietnam relations and a companion for the cause of socialism, and we are deeply saddened,” said Xi, adding that Trong’s outstanding contribution to the relations between the two parties and the two countries and to the cause of the global socialist movement will always be remembered.

The newspaper Nhân Dân further reported that Vietnamese Ambassador to China, Pham Sao Mai expressed gratitude to the Chinese leader for paying respect to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and extending condolences to the party, state, and people of Vietnam. He also thanked the CPC Central Committee for sending condolences to the CPV Central Committee at the earliest, demonstrating the importance the Chinese party, state, people, and the leader personally attach to the relationship between Vietnam and China, as well as the special sentiment he holds for General Secretary Trong.

The Ambassador emphasised that Nguyen Phu Trong was a great intellectual and talent of the Vietnamese revolution; a thinker, a cultural figure, and a theoretical leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and an outstanding disciple who continuously studied and followed the ideology, morality, and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh, dedicated his entire life to the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese party and the people, and lived for the country and its people.

During his lifetime, Trong devoted a lot of love and enthusiasm and made many important contributions to the relationship between the two parties and the two countries, the Ambassador stated, stressing that under the attention and direct instructions of the two General Secretaries, the relations between the two parties and the two countries have made gigantic progress over the past 10 years, becoming a community with a shared future which carries strategic significance, and receiving the support of their people.

The other socialist countries have also expressed their deep condolences to their Vietnamese comrades.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that, on July 19, Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, had written to the CPV Central Committee, stating that “Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, true to the idea and desire of Comrade Ho Chi Minh, devotedly struggled for the strengthening and development of the party and state of Vietnam and the well-being of its people and made great efforts to further develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Vietnam in conformity with the spirit of the agreement reached at the Hanoi summit in March 2019.”

Although he passed away, his immortal exploits will be etched in the history of the Vietnamese people’s revolutionary struggle and the history of friendship between the two countries, the message said, and went on to express the belief that the party, government and people of Vietnam would overcome the pain of loss and continue to dynamically advance the socialist cause.

The KPL news agency of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) reported that the country’s leadership said that the loss of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, “signifies the departure of a revolutionary leader who dedicated his life, energy, and wisdom to the noble cause of national liberation, reunification, and the transformative journey of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

“Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong played a pivotal role in strengthening and empowering the Vietnamese party, state, and people. His unwavering commitment to defence, anti-corruption, and the elevation of Vietnam’s standing on the regional and international stage has made him a distinguished hero of the new era.

“The passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is not only a loss for the party, state, and people of Vietnam but also for the Lao party, state, and people. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, a revolutionary leader in the modern era, carried forward the mission of President Ho Chi Minh and made significant contributions to fostering the exceptional friendship, special unity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.”

Cuba declared a period of mourning for the late Vietnamese leader. A message from Army General Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel sent to Vietnamese President To Lam, said that:

“The passing away of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is an irreparable loss for Cuba. Cuba will always remember Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong as a great brother who tirelessly promoted the special friendly relationship between the two parties, parliaments, governments, and peoples.”

Cuba’s revolutionary leaders stated that Trong’s life and career are a priceless legacy for future generations. “His contributions regarding the role of the Communist Party, the creative application of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, and his vision of international relations in the current context are among his outstanding contributions to the building of socialism in Vietnam, which is evidenced in the victories in the Doi Moi [renewal] cause in Vietnam under the wise leadership of the CPV.”

The following articles were orignally published by the Xinhua News Agency and Nhân Dân.

Xi mourns passing of Nguyen Phu Trong

BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, went to the Embassy of Vietnam in China on Saturday to mourn the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

Praising Trong as a staunch Marxist and a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people, Xi said that Trong had devoted himself entirely to the CPV and the country, to the Vietnamese people and to the cause of socialism in Vietnam, and had been deeply respected and admired by the party, military and people of Vietnam.

Xi recalled that over the past decade, he and Trong had maintained close contact and developed a deep camaraderie, and that last year they jointly announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, a milestone in bilateral ties.

“The passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong has deprived us of a promoter of China-Vietnam relations and a companion for the cause of socialism, and we are deeply saddened,” said Xi.

He said that Trong’s outstanding contribution to the relations between the two parties and the two countries and to the cause of the global socialist movement will always be remembered.

Xi stressed that the CPC and the Chinese government firmly support the CPV in uniting and leading the Vietnamese people to develop socialism that suits Vietnam’s national conditions.

It is believed that under the strong leadership of the CPV Central Committee, the Vietnamese people will surely be able to turn grief into strength and continue to make greater achievements in the cause of reform, opening up and socialist construction, Xi said.

He said he firmly believes that China and Vietnam will continue to work together to make profound and solid progress in building the China-Vietnam community of a shared future.

Top Chinese leader mourns passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

July 20 (Nhân Dân) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on July 20 came to the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to mourn the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

He was accompanied by Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Chief of the CPC Central Committee’s Office; Wang Yi, Politburo member, Director of the Office of the CPC Central Committee’s Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Liu Jianchao, member of the CPC Central Committee and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; and many other Chinese officials.

Writing in the condolence book, Xi expressed his deep sympathy over the death of the Vietnamese Party leader.

He told Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sao Mai that Trong is a consistent Marxist and a great leader of the Vietnamese Party and people.

He devoted his whole life to the Vietnamese Party, State and people, led the nation to carve out major achievements in the socialism building cause, and received support and love from the whole Party, military and people, Xi said, affirming that China always bears in mind the significant contributions by the Vietnamese leader to bolstering the traditional “comrade and fraternal” friendship between the two countries.

According to the top Chinese leader, the CPC Central Committee consistently backs the CPV Central Committee in its development path, as well as supports and believes in the further success of Vietnam’s renewal and socialism building cause. Besides, it stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to make efforts to promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in a deeper and more substantive manner.

Ambassador Mai expressed gratitude to the Chinese leader for paying respect to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and extending condolences to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam. The ambassador also thanked the CPC Central Committee for sending condolences to the CPC Central Committee at the earliest, demonstrating the importance the Chinese Party, State, people, and the leader personally attach to the relationship between Vietnam and China, as well as the special sentiment he holds for General Secretary Trong.

Mai emphasised that Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong was a great intellectual and talent of the Vietnamese revolution; a thinker, a cultural figure, and a theory leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and an outstanding disciple who continuously studied and followed the ideology, morality, and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh, dedicated his entire life to the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese Party and the people, and lived for the country and its people. Therefore, the passing of General Secretary Trong is a great loss to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam.

During he was alive, Trong devoted a lot of love and enthusiasm and made many important contributions to the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, the diplomat stated, stressing that under the attention and direct instructions of the two General Secretaries, the relations between the two Parties and the two countries has made gigantic progress over the past 10 years, becoming a community with a shared future which carries strategic significance, and receiving the support of their people, he said.

The ambassador affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always consider developing relations with the their Chinese counterparts a top priority and a strategic choice. He added that he will, together with the Chinese side, thoroughly implement the common perceptions of the two General Secretaries, and is ready to work with the Party, State and people of China to further develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a healthy, stable and sustainable manner, in accordance with the “six more” orientation, towards jointly building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning, and members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi sent wreaths.

The CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Central Military Commission of the CPC, and several central and Beijing agencies and organisations also sent wreaths in tribute to Party General Secretary Trong.

Earlier on July 19, the CPC Central Committee sent condolences to the CPV Central Committee over the passing of the Vietnamese leader.

CPC Central Committee: Eternal glory to Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong

The day after announcing that Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), required intensive medical treatment, on July 19, it was announced that the revolutionary leader had passed away at 1:38pm local time at the age of 80.

Shortly after, the Xinhua News Agency released the text of the condolences sent by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to their Vietnamese counterpart, deeply mourning Trong’s death. The message said that the CPC and the Chinese people had lost a good comrade, a good brother and a good friend. It described Trong as a staunch Marxist and a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people. Besides his work for the country, he had also made outstanding contributions to the development of the world socialist movement. The message added that Trong was a close comrade and a sincere friend of the CPC and the Chinese people. He inherited and developed the traditional friendship of “comrades plus brothers” between the two parties and two countries and forged a profound friendship with the CPC and Chinese leaders. The CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people would always miss him.

“We believe that the CPV and the Vietnamese people will turn grief into strength, carry on the legacy of Trong, unite and strive to make new and greater achievements in the cause of Doi Moi [reform] and socialist construction,” the message added.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday sent condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and deeply mourned the death of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The following is the full text of the condolence message:

General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong passed away. The CPC and the Chinese people lost a good comrade, a good brother and a good friend. With immense grief, we extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathies to the Central Committee of the CPV, the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese people.

Trong was a staunch Marxist and a great leader of the CPV and the Vietnamese people. He dedicated his entire life to the causes of his party and nation, making outstanding contributions to Vietnam’s Doi Moi (reform), socialist construction, and the development of the world socialist movement.

Trong was a close comrade and a sincere friend of the CPC and the Chinese people. He inherited and developed the traditional friendship of “comrades plus brothers” between the two parties and two countries, and forged a profound friendship with the CPC and Chinese leaders.

Trong and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping have jointly elevated China-Vietnam relations to a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance and vigorously promoted the continuous development of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people will always miss Trong.

We believe that the CPV and the Vietnamese people will turn grief into strength, carry on the legacy of Trong, unite and strive to make new and greater achievements in the cause of Doi Moi and socialist construction.

China and Vietnam are socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. China has always regarded Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and stands ready to work with Vietnam to continuously consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and push forward the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future to benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional and world peace and development.

Eternal glory to Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong.

China and Vietnam deepen cooperation and enhance political mutual trust

A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), led by Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member and Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, paid a working visit to China from June 11-15, as part of the intensive diplomatic and political exchanges between the two socialist neighbours.

In Beijing, the delegation had meetings with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

In his meeting with Wang Huning, Nghia said that Vietnam sincerely appreciates China’s valuable support for its revolution and construction, adheres to the spirit and principle of “comrades-plus-brothers” and “top priority” to advance the relations between the two parties and two countries, and firmly pushes forward the building of a community of shared future that carries strategic significance between Vietnam and China.

Wang said the CPC is ready to foster cooperation and sharing of experience in party building and country management with the CPV, adding it believed that the 14th National Congress of the CPV will be successful.

He held that cooperation between the two parties and the two countries have entered a new stage with a new level defined after the mutual visits by the two parties’ General Secretaries. The development of party-to-party ties will give orientations and be a solid guarantee for the two countries’ cooperation in various fields to grow healthily and sustainably.

Agreeing with Nghia’s opinions about the direction for promoting the two parties and two countries’ cooperation in the coming period, Wang suggested the two sides step up the sharing of experience in theory research and review of experience, properly carry out ideological work and coordinate to build a defence line against sabotage and imperialist plot of peaceful evolution (from socialism to capitalism) and ‘colour revolutions’.

Meeting Li Shulei, Nghia said Vietnam is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, enhance political mutual trust, deepen cooperation between corresponding government departments, promote publicity related to the Vietnam-China friendship, and promote the continuous development of the relationship between the two parties and two countries, as well as the socialist cause.

Li and Nghia agreed that the two sides also need to work together to effectively manage and control information about complicated and sensitive issues as well as differences so as not to let hostile and reactionary forces take advantage of them to distort or drive a wedge into the relations between the two parties and countries.

Following his meetings in Beijing, Nghia visited the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. He noted that Guangdong always pays attention to preserving the relics and historical sites connected to President Ho Chi Minh and other Vietnamese revolutionaries in the locality, particularly the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League relic site and the grave of Martyr Pham Hong Thai.

Nghia paid tribute to Martyr Pham Hong Thai at his tomb and visited the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League relic site on June 15.

Pham Hong Thai (1896–1924) was a Vietnamese patriot and a member of Dong Du, an early revolutionary nationalist organisation. He was responsible for the assassination attempt on Martial Merlin, the governor-general of ‘French Indochina’ (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), when he was on a visit to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

Disguised as a journalist at the party given in Merlin’s honour, Pham Hong Thai detonated an explosive device but failed to kill Merlin. Pursued by the authorities, he chose to drown himself in the Pearl River rather than be captured. He was buried in the Huanghuagang Cemetery in Guangzhou, next to 72 Chinese revolutionaries who fell in the Second Guangzhou Uprising against the Qing dynasty in April 1911.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and Nhân Dân.

China’s top political advisor meets CPV delegation

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — China’s top political advisor Wang Huning met with a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Nguyen Trong Nghia, member of the Political Bureau and secretariat of the CPV Central Committee, as well as head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), urged China and Vietnam to adhere to the strategic guidance of the general secretaries of the two parties and promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

He noted that the CPPCC is ready to contribute positively to this end.

Xi Jinping: China and Vietnam demonstrate the strengths of socialism

As a highpoint in the continued development of close cooperative and comradely relations between China and Vietnam, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid a working visit to China, June 24-27, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang.

The main purpose of Chinh’s latest visit, his third working visit to China in the space of a year, was to attend the 15th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), popularly known as the ‘Summer Davos’, held in Dalian, in China’s north-east Liaoning province. He was one of just two heads of state or government invited to attend, the other being President Andrzej Duda of Poland.

On June 26, having concluded his program in Dalian, Chinh met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Xi asked Chinh to convey his cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and to Vietnamese President To Lam. He said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Trong had announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, ushering bilateral relations into a new stage. Over the past half a year, the two parties and the two countries have enjoyed close exchanges among high-ranking officials and smooth cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he added.

Noting that the world today is going through changes unseen in a century, Xi said both China and Vietnam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, demonstrating the strengths of the socialist system. The building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance is in line with the modernisation needs of the two countries and is conducive to maintaining regional peace and stability and to promoting the development of the global socialist cause. China is willing to work with Vietnam to maintain solidarity and friendship, consolidate mutual support, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said, adding that China also stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to march toward modernisation and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Chinh conveyed cordial greetings from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President To Lam to Xi. He said that Vietnam and China, both as socialist countries led by the communist party, have a tradition of good-neighbourliness and friendship. Vietnam hopes to learn from China’s new theories, practices and achievements in party and state governance, and to stick to the path of socialism along with China to achieve common development.

Noting that Vietnam supports China’s position on the Taiwan question and firmly adheres to the one-China principle, Chinh said that it is the top priority and strategic choice of Vietnam’s foreign policy, which will not be disrupted by external interference, to deepen strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation with China and build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

On the same day, Chinh also met with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.

Chinh stated that Vietnam and China are close neighbours bound by shared mountains and rivers as well as many similarities in political systems, development paths, and socio-cultural characteristics. The Vietnamese party, state, and people always remember the significant and valuable support of their Chinese counterparts during Vietnam’s past struggle for independence and current process of national construction and development.

He affirmed that strengthening and fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China is an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification of relations.

Concurring with Chinh’s views on the relationship between the two parties and countries, Wang stated that China always prioritises its relationship with Vietnam in its neighbourhood diplomacy, and consistently supports it in advancing its Doi Moi (renewal) policy under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam toward industrialisation, modernisation, and increasing prestige and heightened position on the international stage. Lauding Vietnam’s significant theoretical achievements, he noted the need for both sides to enhance theoretical exchanges, thereby making contributions to the cause of building socialism in their respective countries.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, as a member of Chinh’s delegation, met separately with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on June 26.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that the close high-level exchanges between China and Vietnam fully demonstrate the special friendship between the two parties and countries, as well as the high level of their mutual trust and cooperation.

Son said that Vietnam is willing to work with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields, and jointly advance the cause of socialist construction, adding that Vietnam is willing to actively participate in a series of global initiatives proposed by China.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and Nhân Dân.

Xi meets Vietnamese PM

BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh in Beijing on Wednesday. Chinh is in China to attend the 2024 Summer Davos.

Xi asked Chinh to convey his cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and to Vietnamese President To Lam.

Xi said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Trong announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, ushering bilateral relations into a new stage.

Over the past half a year, the two parties and the two countries have enjoyed close exchanges among high-ranking officials and smooth cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

CPC delegation visits Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to strengthen fraternal ties

A Communist Party of China delegation, headed by Zhao Shitong, Assistant Minister of the Central Committee’s International Department (IDCPC), recently visited Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to strengthen fraternal ties, at the invitation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

On May 13, the delegation met in Hanoi with Le Hoai Trung, the head of the Vietnamese party’s international commission.

Trung highlighted the sound and practical development in the bilateral relationship and expressed his appreciation for the Chinese people’s assistance to Vietnam’s revolutionary cause, socialist construction and development process through various periods, including the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory, the 70th anniversary of which was recently widely celebrated in Vietnam. He added that the Vietnam-China relationship is a top priority of the Vietnamese party and state.

For his part, Zhao congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee, with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the helm.

Previously, the delegation visited Laos, from May 9-12, and both sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, and work together to build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future.

It visited Cambodia from May 13-16 and the two parties agreed to deepen party-to-party exchanges, actively cooperate in economic, cultural, youth and other fields, and consolidate and carry forward the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân and the Xinhua News Agency.

Vietnamese, Chinese Party officials pledge stronger cooperation

May 13 (Nhân Dân) — Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung received Assistant Minister of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s International Department Zhao Shitong in Hanoi on May 13.

The officials highly evaluated positive development steps in the bilateral relations since the two historic visits made by the top leaders of the two Parties.

They agreed that the two strategic advisory bodies on foreign affairs of the CPV and CPC will step up their coordination and will work with relevant agencies and localities in a bid to effectively implement the two countries’ high-level common perceptions, joint statements, and bilateral cooperation documents.

Trung highlighted the sound and practical development in the bilateral relations and expressed his appreciation for the Chinese people’s assistance to Vietnam’s revolutionary cause and socialist construction and development process through various periods, including the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory. He went on noting that the Vietnam-China relationship is a top priority of the Vietnamese Party and State.

For his part, Zhao congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee, with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the helm.

Zhao led a delegation from the CPC Central Committee’s International Department to pay a working visit to Vietnam on May 12 and 13. Earlier, he held talks with Vice Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Ngo Le Van, during which the two sides discussed cooperation orientations between the the two agencies and the promotion of exchanges through the Party channel in the time to come.

CPC delegation visits Laos

VIENTIANE, May 12 (Xinhua) — Zhao Shitong, assistant minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation on a visit to Laos from May 9 to 12, at the invitation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

During the visit, Zhao met with Bounthong Chitmany, a politburo member of the LPRP Central Committee, a permanent member of the Secretariat of the LPRP Central Committee, and vice president of Laos.

The Chinese delegation held talks with Khamphanh Pheuyavong, a member of the Secretariat of the LPRP Central Committee and head of the Propaganda and Training Board of the LPRP Central Committee.

The delegation also met with Thongsavanh Phomvihane, head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and held talks with heads of the Lao party and government departments.

During the visit, the two sides exchanged views on China-Laos relations and issues of common concern.

Both sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, and work together to build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future.

CPC delegation visits Cambodia on ties

PHNOM PENH, May 16 (Xinhua) — Zhao Shitong, assistant minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation to visit Cambodia from May 13 to 16 at the invitation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

During the visit, Zhao met with Prak Sokhonn, chairman of the Commission for International Relations of the CPP’s Central Committee and first vice president of the Senate, Hun Many, deputy prime minister, and Suos Yara, vice chairman of the Commission for International Relations of the CPP’s Central Committee, as well as representatives of the Youth House for Cambodia-China Friendship.

The two sides exchanged views on China-Cambodia relations and issues of common concern, and agreed to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both countries.

Both sides also agreed to deepen party-to-party exchanges, actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in economic, cultural, youth and other fields, and consolidate and carry forward the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia.

Vietnam holds grand ceremony to celebrate 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory

Vietnam held a grand ceremony and parade on May 7 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the great victory in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This victory of a colonised nation against a far stronger imperialist power not only sounded the death knell of French colonial rule in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, but also inspired the national liberation movement throughout the world.

Held in Dien Bien Phu city, the celebration was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other serving and retired Vietnamese leaders. Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), joined leaders from Laos, Cambodia and France at the event.

In his speech, Prime Minister Chinh, on behalf of the Party and State, expressed endless gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the direct commander of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, predecessors, soldiers, heroic Vietnamese mothers, the heroes of the people’s armed forces, pioneering youths, frontline workers, war invalids, martyrs’ families, along with the entire armed forces and people nationwide, for their utmost dedication, bravery, and sacrifice to create the historic Dien Bien Phu victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe.”

He also appreciated the precious and wholehearted assistance from China, the countries of the former Soviet Union, socialist nations, international friends, and progressive and peace-loving forces worldwide, especially Laos and Cambodia in the combatant alliance of the three Indochinese countries, for the Dien Bien Phu campaign as well as the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation.

The historic victory was not only significant to the Vietnamese revolution but also became a source of support for national liberation movements and marked the start of the collapse of old colonialism around the world, he remarked.

The following article was originally published in the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân.

The Party Central Committee, the National Assembly (NA), the State President, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, and the northwestern province of Dien Bien held a grand ceremony on May 7 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – 2024).

The event, organised in Dien Bien Phu city, was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Chairwoman of its Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the NA Tran Thanh Man, and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien.

It also saw the presence of former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former State Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet, Truong Tan Sang, and Nguyen Xuan Phuc; former PM Nguyen Tan Dung; and former NA Chairman Nguyen Van An,

International guests included Lao Deputy PM and Minister of National Defence Chansamone Chanyalath, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Qingwei, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, delegates of foreign representative bodies in Vietnam, defence attachés of other countries, and representatives of overseas Vietnamese.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent flowers to the event.

Dien Bien Phu victory through the memory of Chinese Senior Lieutenant General

Vietnam has been staging major commemorations of the 70^th anniversary of the country’s victory at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This epic confrontation, which has been compared to the Battle of Stalingrad, and which raged for more than 50 days, from 13 March-May 7 1954, saw the Vietnamese liberation forces, led by Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, comprehensively outwit, outmaneuver and finally crushingly defeat the far more powerful forces of French colonialism.

The victory of the Vietnamese revolutionaries destroyed French colonial rule in the three countries then collectively known as Indochina, namely Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, which was then codified in the Geneva Accords of July 21, 1954. And, coming less than a year after the Korean people’s victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, the Vietnamese victory at Dien Bien Phu powerfully inspired oppressed peoples and nations throughout the world in their struggles against colonialism and imperialism. Not least, the Algerian people commenced their war of liberation against French colonial rule less than six months later.

The Vietnamese Communist Party’s newspaper Nhân Dân recently summarised the significance of the Dien Bien Phu victory as follows:

“The Dien Bien Phu Victory became the sound of thunder that shook the world, tearing through the dark clouds of colonialism and imperialism, bringing a great source of encouragement to oppressed peoples to stand up to regain independence. The three words ‘Vietnam’, ‘Ho Chi Minh’, and ‘Dien Bien Phu’ resounded everywhere, becoming the pride and hope for freedom of progressive forces, a symbol of great bravery, and a shining star of the national liberation movement, signalling the collapse of colonialism.

“The Dien Bien Phu Victory is even greater because it is a victory of a fledgling army of a weak nation which defeated a colonialist giant with outnumbering troops and weapons. During the 56 days and nights of the battle, our army eliminated more than 16,000 enemy troops and demolished a group of strongholds regarded by the West as an invincible fortress. It was also the first time in history that a major expeditionary army of a western imperialist country was exterminated in a colonial country.”

Vietnam’s victory was immeasurably aided by the internationalist support and assistance of the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, particularly the Military Advisory Delegation of China, which was embedded with the Vietnamese command.

It was commanded by Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing (September 2, 1913-June 14, 1989). An outstanding Chinese revolutionary, Wei also served as Vice Chairman of the 4^th and 5th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committees; Vice Chairman of the 4^th and 5th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conferences (CPPCC); Alternate Member and Member of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC); Member of the 9th Central Committee of the CPC; and member of the 10th, 11th and 12th Political Bureaux of the CPC Central Committee.

Marking the 70^th anniversary, Nhân Dân recently interviewed Wei Guoqing’s son, Wei Xiaoyi, and his widow, Xu Qiqian.

Wei Xiaoyi said: “Before leaving for Vietnam, Chairman Mao Zedong met with the delegation’s leaders in Zhongnanhai [the compound where the top Chinese leadership live and work]. He asked the delegation’s members to support the Vietnamese revolution impartially and purely, just like serving the Chinese revolution. My father remembered Chairman Mao Zedong’s notes. After coming to Vietnam, he contributed his opinions to the construction and operations of the Vietnamese army”.

Regarding the significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory for Vietnam, China and the world, Wei Xiaoyi said that the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign forced the French army to withdraw from Indochina, leading to the success of the cause of national liberation. The growth and maturity of the Vietnamese forces, from a guerrilla army gradually becoming a regular army, created the foundation for the struggle against US imperialists’ invasion and later the national liberation and reunification.

For China, in the 1950s, the maintenance of stability in the situation of Korea bordering north China and Vietnam bordering south China created favourable conditions for the building of socialism. In addition, the Dien Bien Phu Victory also had an impact on the national liberation movement around the world. Vietnam’s struggle to defeat the French colonialists and later, the American imperialists to reunify the country, was a great encouragement for the national liberation movement in the world.

The following article was originally published by Nhân Dân. Additionally, its timeline of the battle can be seen here.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper’s reporters in China interviewed Wei Xiaoyi, a son of Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing, former Head of the Military Advisory Delegation of China during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Wei Xiaoyi and his mother, Xu Qiqian (over 90), were very moved when they recalled their memories of the Chinese Senior Lieutenant General, who was attached to and devoted much love to Vietnam.

Recalling Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing’s account of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Wei Xiaoyi said following the failures in campaigns, such as the Border Campaign and Upper Laos Campaign, France appointed General Henri Navarre as Commander-in-Chief of the French army in Indochina. Navarre developed a military plan named after himself to turn the tide of the Indochina war, with the assumption that by capturing this land, they would be able to control the entire northwest region of Vietnam and cut off communication between the Vietnamese army and people with Laos and China, while making it difficult for the Vietnamese to supply logistics.

In late 1953, the French army began sending garrisons to Dien Bien Phu, including mercenaries and later paratroopers. Faced with that situation, at Vietnam’s request, China sent a military advisory delegation to help the Vietnamese army. Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing was the Head of the Chinese military advisory delegation to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Wei Xiaoyi said: “Before leaving for Vietnam, President Mao Zedong met with the delegation’s leaders in Zhongnanhai. He asked the delegation’s members to support the Vietnamese revolution impartially and purely, just like serving the Chinese revolution. My father remembered President Mao Zedong’s notes. After coming to Vietnam, he contributed his opinions to the construction and operations of the Vietnamese army”.

On the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, Wei Xiaoyi visited the ancient Dien Bien Phu battlefield. He said he felt all he heard about Dien Bien Phu through the relic sites such as Dien Bien Phu Campaign Headquarters, where General Vo Nguyen Giap and others of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command often worked and rested, or the workplace of the Chinese Military Advisory Delegation.

Just like his father, Wei Xiaoyi greatly admired the spirit of heroic fighting and overcoming difficulties and hardships of the Vietnamese army and people, especially the transportation of weapons, ammunition, and food during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, relied entirely on human strength amid the scarcity and a large difference in force with the enemy.

Regarding the significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory for Vietnam, China and the world, Wei Xiaoyi said that the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign forced the French army to withdraw from Indochina, leading to the success of the cause of national liberation. The growth and maturity of the Vietnamese, from a guerrilla army gradually becoming a regular army, created the foundation for the struggle against US imperialists’ invasion and later the national liberation and reunification.

For China, in the 1950s, the maintenance of stability in the situation of Korea in North China and Vietnam in South China created favourable conditions for the building of socialism in China. In addition, the Dien Bien Phu Victory also had an impact on the national liberation movement around the world. Vietnam’s struggle to defeat the French colonialists and later, the American imperialists to reunify the country was a great encouragement for the national liberation movement in the world.

Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing (September 2, 1913 – June 14, 1989) was Head of the Chinese Military Advisory Delegation in Vietnam; Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for fourth and fifth tenures; Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference for fourth and fifth tenures; Alternate Member and Member of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC); Member of the 9th Central Committee of the CPC; and member of the 10th, 11th and 12th Politburo of the CPC.

Wei Xiaoyi is the second child of Senior Lieutenant General Wei Guoqing. He joined the army and retired. He is now a researcher on Chinese military and revolutionary history.

Xi Jinping: China and Vietnam are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny

Following the recent China visit by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, paid an April 7-12 visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

In his first official engagement, Hue met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 8. While asking Vuong Dinh Hue to convey cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Xi also said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong had jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, thereby opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Under the joint efforts by the two sides, the consensus reached by him and Nguyen Phu Trong is being implemented, Xi added.

He said the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations is that the two sides are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny, and “comrades-plus-brothers” is the most vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries.

He urged joint efforts by the two sides to promote more achievements in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, better serve their respective modernisation, further benefit the two peoples, and make greater contributions to the global socialist cause.

Amid the profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, it serves the common interest of China and Vietnam to safeguard the socialist system and maintain national stability and development.

He urged the two sides to foster a strong sense of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future based on a high level of mutual trust, consolidate the foundation for the vision with high-quality cooperation, and promote this vision with a high degree of political wisdom.

This emphasis on the importance of good China-Vietnam relations not only from the bilateral point of view but also for the global cause of socialism overall, which was stressed throughout Hue’s visit, has acquired particular importance since President Xi paid a state visit to Vietnam last December.

Vuong Dinh Hue conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from Nguyen Phu Trong to Xi, noting that the CPV and the Vietnamese government highly appreciate China’s development and progress. China’s two parliamentary sessions held this year set the goals of developing new quality productive forces, among others, which are innovative moves of socialism and provide useful references for Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam regards China as its top strategic priority in its foreign relations, Hue said, adding that the Vietnamese side will follow relevant goals set by Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi to maintain close communications and cooperation with China at various levels and continue to consolidate a high level of political mutual trust.

Foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Timor-Leste visit China

As part of an ongoing intensive diplomatic effort by China to consolidate and develop friendly relations with the member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries in the region, China’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted separate visits from the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Timor-Leste in the first week of April. The visits all took place in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, bordering Vietnam, serving also to highlight the growing importance attached to subnational ties by China in its foreign policy.

Wang Yi met with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son on April 4. He noted that China-Vietnam relations achieved rapid development last year since the top leaders of the two parties jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. Quoting a line of poetry from the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, he said that this gave new meaning to the verse, “so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers.”

Since the beginning of this year, he added, the top leaders of the two parties have exchanged new year greetings and maintained the momentum of high-level visits, while border provinces have pursued close cooperation and two-way personnel exchanges have achieved new breakthroughs.

China always regards Vietnam as a priority in neighbourhood diplomacy and stands ready to work with Vietnam to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, make solid plans for bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and jointly push forward the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future to a new level.

He suggested that the two sides should focus on such areas as strengthening high-level strategic communication, accelerating the alignment of development strategies, and continuing to expand cooperation in the economic and trade investment, digital economy, green development, new energy and key minerals.

Calling on both sides to jointly safeguard international equity and justice and continue to support each other on issues concerning major common interests, Wang said that it is necessary to be vigilant against engaging in camp confrontations in the region and cobbling together various “small circles” to undermine regional peace and stability.

Bui Thanh Son said that as a neighbour, comrade and brother, Vietnam supports China’s development and always regards China as the top priority and strategic choice of Vietnam’s foreign relations.

Vietnam is willing to maintain close coordination with China, promote economic and trade investment, deepen subnational cooperation, actively promote Vietnam-China friendship, build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that bears strategic significance, and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Vietnam adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China’s position on Taiwan and issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang [Tibet], opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights and democracy, and will strengthen multilateral coordination with China to safeguard common interests, he added.

The previous day, Bui Thanh Son had discussed regional cooperation with the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China Liu Ning. He affirmed that the Vietnamese party and state always support and facilitate cooperation between Vietnamese localities and their Chinese counterparts, including Guangxi.

Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities, and Guangxi should maintain and raise the efficiency of their existing cooperation mechanisms, step up friendship, conduct theory exchanges and share experience in Party building, social management and economic development.

Further consolidation of comradely relations between China and Vietnam

In a further consolidation of the comradely relations between China and its socialist neighbour, Vietnam, following his annual meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Minister Liu Jianchao of the Communist Party of China’s International Department (IDCPC), held in Jilin, north-east China on March 18, Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, continued his working visit with high-level meetings in Beijing.

On March 22, he met separately with Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee as well as of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, who is also Foreign Minister.

Cai said that China stands ready to work with Vietnam to implement the important results of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam in December 2023, maintain high-level exchanges, and strengthen mutual learning in state governance theories and experience.

China is also ready to work with Vietnam to promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, consolidate the friendship between the two peoples, strengthen international and regional coordination and cooperation, and boost the modernisation of the two countries, he added.

He affirmed that China supports Vietnam in playing a bigger role in the region and on the international stage, raising the voice of developing countries in addressing international issues.

Le Hoai Trung said that Vietnam will adhere to the consensus reached by the two leaders, commit firmly to building a strategically significant Vietnam-China community with a shared future, and push forward exchanges and cooperation between the two parties and two countries to continuously achieve important results.

He expressed to the Chinese leaders that the two sides should continue increasing high-level meetings and exchanges, especially among the top leaders; and step-up exchanges between departments of their Party Central Committees and local Party committees, while also boosting coordination in economy, trade, and transport connectivity, and coordinating efforts to reinforce a solid social foundation for the bilateral ties.

Wang Yi said that China is ready to intensify high-level exchanges with Vietnam, deepen exchanges and mutual learning on theories and experiences of party and state governance, effectively advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and jointly advance the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Underlining the cooperative relationship between the two socialist countries, the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân also reported that on the same day, border guards stationed in Vietnam’s northern province of Ha Giang coordinated with their counterparts in China’s Yunnan province to hold a joint patrol along the two provinces’ shared border, aimingto detect violations of border regulations, resolve any and protect security and safety.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency, the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Nhân Dân.

Senior CPC official meets CPV delegation

BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) — Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi met with a delegation led by Le Hoai Trung, secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, in Beijing on Friday.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Vietnam in December last year and, together with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, announced the construction of a strategically significant China-Vietnam community with a shared future — an epoch-making milestone in the history of bilateral relations.

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.

Building a China-Vietnam community with shared future

The top Communist Party leaders of China and Vietnam have exchanged greetings with the approach of the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, a very significant traditional holiday for both peoples.

In his message to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, said that 2023 was an epoch-making year in the history of China-Vietnam relations, with frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides, a more solid political mutual trust, an acceleration in synergy of their development strategies, a robust momentum of comprehensive cooperation, vibrant people-to-people exchange activities and a traditional friendship that grows ever stronger.

He added that amidst an atmosphere of goodwill marking the 15th anniversary of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he had visited Vietnam as promised, thus realising the third round of mutual visits between him and Trong in the new era.

For his part, Trong said bilateral relations have shown a positive momentum of development and achieved significant progress ever since his official visit to China in October 2022 following the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress.

Xi’s successful state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, he added, demonstrated the great importance the CPC, China and Xi attach to Vietnam’s socialist construction and to bilateral relations.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that he stands ready to work with the Vietnamese side to promote the China-Vietnam community with a shared future and see it take root and bear fruits.

Xi made the remarks in an exchange of Spring Festival greetings with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

In his message, Xi extended his sincere greetings and best wishes for the Spring Festival to Trong, the CPV as well as the Vietnamese government and people on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

The year 2023 was epoch-making in the history of China-Vietnam relations, with frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides, a more solid political mutual trust, an acceleration in synergy of their development strategies, a robust momentum of comprehensive cooperation, vibrant people-to-people exchange activities and a traditional friendship that grows ever stronger, Xi said.

He said that amidst an atmosphere of goodwill marking the 15th anniversary of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he visited Vietnam as promised, thus realizing the third round of mutual visits between him and Trong in the new era.

Noting that he and Trong jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said that it has opened up a new journey and a new chapter for the development of ties between the two parties and two nations, a manifestation of the firm will and resolve of the two sides to cooperate and forge ahead.

Xi said that in 2024, he stands ready to maintain close contacts with Trong in guiding the two sides to anchor the new positioning of bilateral ties, and make concerted and solid efforts to promote high-level and high-quality development of exchanges and cooperation via all channels, at all levels and in all sectors.

All the vivid practices and practical results will inject new impetus into the modernization cause of the two countries, so as to provide positive energy for the prosperity and development of the Asia-Pacific region, and make greater contribution to the cause of peace and progress of mankind, Xi said.

Xi’s successful state visit to Vietnam in December 2023 demonstrated the great importance the CPC, China and Xi attach to Vietnam’s socialist construction and to bilateral relations, Trong said.

During Xi’s Vietnam visit, the two sides conducted comprehensive and in-depth exchanges in the spirit of the deep friendship of comrades plus brothers between Vietnam and China, issued a joint statement on further upgrading the bilateral relations, and signed dozens of cooperation documents of historic significance, Trong noted.

These fruitful results have laid a solid foundation and provided strategic guidance for the relations between the two parties and the two countries to enter a healthier, practical and fruitful new development stage and maintain a long-term stable and positive momentum, he said.

Trong said he highly values and is willing to maintain exchanges and contact with Xi, adding that he stands ready to continuously offer care and guidance to various localities and departments at all levels from the two sides in implementing the important consensus and agreements reached by high-level officials of both sides during Xi’s Vietnam visit.

Doing so will benefit the development of relations between the two parties and between the two countries, serve the interests of the two peoples, and contribute to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Trong also wished the CPC continued growth, the People’s Republic of China prosperity, and the brotherly Chinese people a happy and peaceful New Year.

Anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations marked in Beijing

Vietnam and China recently celebrated the 74th anniversary of their establishing diplomatic relations on January 18, 1950.

On the anniversary day, the Chinese Embassy in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi hosted a banquet attended by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

In his remarks, Quang, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, affirmed that the party, state, and people of Vietnam view the development of relations with China as a strategic choice and leading priority in the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations.

The Deputy PM emphasised that after the historic visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022, the two countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership made great strides and obtained significant achievements in 2023.

During the state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023, the two Parties and two countries agreed to continue deepening and elevating their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Then, on January 22, the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing held a ceremony attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sao Mai said that the Vietnam–China friendship, which was nurtured and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong, as well as successive generations of the two countries’ leaders, has become a valuable asset of the two nations, adding that the two countries’ people have stood shoulder to shoulder and supported each other in their cause of national liberation and the process of national construction and development.

The Vietnamese diplomat further recalled the recent state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping, during which General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the Chinese leader discussed and reached agreement on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam–China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, for the happiness of the two nations’ people and for the peace and progress of humanity.

The Vietnamese party, state and people always attach much importance to consolidating and bolstering the friendship and cooperation with the Chinese party, state and people, and consider developing the ties with China as a top priority and a strategic choice in the country’s foreign policy, he stressed.

The following articles were originally published by the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân.

Ceremony marks 74th anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic ties

Jan 19 (Nhan Dan) — The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam hosted a banquet on January 18 in the presence of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 – 2024).

In his remarks, Quang, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam – China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam view the development of relations with China as a strategic choice and leading priority in the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations.

Vietnam holds that the stable and sustainable development of the bilateral ties matches practical benefits of the two countries’ peoples and also benefits cooperation and prosperous development in the region and the world, he said.

During the state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023, the two Parties and the two countries agreed to continue deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and to build a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. This was an important milestone during the development of the bilateral relations, raising the ties between the two Parties and the two countries to a new stage, Quang added.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo noted that China is ready to join hands with Vietnam to properly implement the important common perceptions reached between the Parties and countries’ top leaders, and unceasingly develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

and the Vietnam – China community with a shared future, thereby generating tangible benefits for the people of both nations.

The two sides agreed to keep close coordination to concretise the achievements and new dimensions of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, on which Party General Secretary of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping agreed, to promote the relations between the two Parties and the two countries with higher political trust, more practical defence – security cooperation, more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better controlled and resolved differences, the diplomat said.

Anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations marked in Beijing

Jan 23 (Nhan Dan) — The Vietnamese Embassy in China held a ceremony in Beijing on January 22 to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 – 2024).

The event was attended by Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, representatives of Chinese ministries, sectors, agencies, localities and businesses, experts, scholars and press agencies of both nations.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sao Mai highlighted the significance of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, and reviewed their cooperation achievements over the past time.

The Vietnam – China friendship, which was nurtured and fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong as well as generations of the two countries’ leaders, has become a valuable asset of the two nations, he said, adding the two countries’ people have stood shoulder by shoulder and supported each other in their cause of national liberation and the process of national construction and development.

Amidst complicated and unprecedented developments across the globe, the Vietnam – China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership has developed in a stable manner and recorded important progress thanks to the sound direction of high-level leaders of the two Parties and States as well as concerted efforts made by sectors and people of both sides, he said.

The Vietnamese diplomat recalled the recent state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping, during which General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the Chinese leader discussed and reached perceptions on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance for the happiness of the two nations’ people and for peace and progress of the humankind.

Mai said that the stable Vietnam – China relations have played an important role in the development in each country, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach much importance to consolidating and bolstering the friendship and cooperation with the Chinese Party, State and people, and consider developing the ties with China as a top priority and a strategic choice in the country’s foreign policy, he stressed.

He suggested that both sides should continue enhancing the exchange of delegations at all levels, fully and effectively carry out the perceptions reached by the two Parties and nations, enhance political trust, promote cooperation in economy, trade, investment, tourism, and properly control and handle disagreements on the basis of respect for each other’s legitimate interests and in line with international law.

Participants at the event congratulated Vietnam and China on the achievements they have attained over the past time.

Friendly exchanges between China and Vietnam get off to good start in 2024

Following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam last December, friendly relations and exchanges between China and Vietnam have got off to a good start in 2024.

As the first senior Chinese visitor of the year, Li Shulei, Politiburo and Central Committee Secretariat member and head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Hanoi on January 11.

The Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the significance of the Chinese guest’s visit, which, he said, marked the first high-level exchange activity between the two Parties and countries in 2024.

Congratulating the Chinese party, state and people on their achievements over the past years, he expressed his belief that under the leadership of General Secretary and President Xi, the Chinese people will successfully realise the second centenary goal, making China a “great modern socialist country” that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, contributing even more significantly to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Li, for his part, lauded President Thuong’s suggestions about promoting cooperation between the two Parties and countries and improving the effectiveness of coordination between the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and the CPC Central Committee’s Publicity Department.

In reply, the Vietnamese leader suggested an increase in exchanges and meetings between leaders at various levels from both Parties and countries.

Vietnam welcomes leaders from the Chinese party, state, agencies and localities to the country, he said, adding that the time-tested Vietnam-China relationship has been nurtured by generations of leaders from both parties and countries, becoming an invaluable asset that needs to be widely disseminated among officials, party members, citizens, and especially young generations in both nations.

The previous day Li had met with Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia, who highlighted the significance of the official trip to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary Xi Jinping last December.

Li said the Chinese party and state always see Vietnam as a priority in their neighbourhood diplomacy, adding that China stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to carry out the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two parties, helping bolster the sound Vietnam-China ties in a more sustainable fashion and making contributions to regional and global peace, stability and development.

The main purpose of Li’s visit was to attend the 18th theoretical workshop of the communist parties of China and Vietnam, which was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 12, with a focus on experiences in and solutions to enhancing the protection of the ecological environment during the process of national construction and modernisation.

Stressing the urgency of tackling environmental degradation, natural resource exhaustion, and climate change, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, who headed the Vietnamese delegation, said the party and state of Vietnam identified critically important targets, viewpoints, and measures for promoting green growth so as to achieve economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social equality, while practically contributing to the international community’s efforts to protect the ecological environment and respond to climate change.

For his part, Li said the protection of the ecological environment and civilisation holds special importance in China’s efforts to realise the second centenary goal. He also introduced China’s general target on environmental protection set at the 20th National Congress of the CPC, which is pursuing green development and promoting harmony between humanity and nature, results obtained so far, along with experiences and measures that have proven effective.

Both officials affirmed the importance of increasing theoretical discussions between the two Parties in the new context, saying such events are occasions for the two sides to share the CPV and CPC’s theoretical achievements and practical experiences in leading and organising the implementation of guidelines and policies on the protection of the ecological environmental and civilisation.

The previous day, Li had also attended a cultural and academic exchange forum in Hanoi, with the participation of many experts, scholars, intellectuals and artists from the two countries.

Following his visit to Vietnam, Li visited Cambodia, January 13-14, where he met with Tea Banh, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and a member of the Supreme Privy Council to King Sihamoni, as well as other senior officials.

Noting that China and Cambodia have a long and enduring friendship which remains rock-solid, Li said that China is willing to work with Cambodia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen inter-party exchanges, share experience in state governance, deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation, and consolidate the public support for the friendship between China and Cambodia.

Expressing thanks to China for its long-standing selfless assistance to Cambodia’s economic and social development, the Cambodian side said the CPP and the government will firmly uphold a policy of friendship toward China and the one-China principle, and support the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity as well as various major initiatives proposed by China.

The following articles were originally published by the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân and the Xinhua News Agency.

President hosts Chinese Party official

Jan 11 (Nhan Dan) — President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 11 for Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Secretariat and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee Li Shulei.

President Vo Van Thuong spoke highly of the significance of the Chinese guest’s visit, which marks the first high-level exchange activity between the two Parties and countries in 2024 and aims to concretise the important common perceptions reached by the two Party leaders, especially following the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse late last year.

Congratulating the Chinese Party, State and people on their achievements over the past years, he expressed his belief that under the leadership of General Secretary and President Xi, the Chinese people will successfully realise the “Second Centennial” goal, making China a “great modern socialist country” that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, contributing even more significantly to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Li, for his part, lauded President Thuong’s suggestions about promoting cooperation between the two Parties and countries, and improving the effectiveness of coordination between the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and the CPC Central Committee’s Publicity Department.