General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China: Deepening neighborly and friendly relations

Enhancing Vietnam - China friendship

Official visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongtook place from October 30 to November 1, but before the visit, the Chinese press devoted many pages and time to inform, reflect and analyze the friendly relationship between the two Parties, two States and peoples of the two countries.

What has attracted the most attention from the international public is that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the first foreign leader to be invited to visit Beijing after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Five years ago, on November 12, 2017, the General Secretary and President of the People's Republic of China also chose Vietnam as the first country to make a state visit after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

These have shown that China attaches special importance to the friendly and cooperative relationship with Vietnam; considering Vietnam not only a reliable partner but also a friend and comrade in the context of many international changes.

In return, Vietnam always holds the highest respect for Beijing, thereby continuously enriching and deepening the relationship between the two Parties, two States and peoples.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong arrives at Beijing International Airport to begin his official visit to China. Photo: VNA

Vietnam and China have been connected by rivers and mountains since ancient times. The two countries share a land border of 1,449.566 km. In all stages of development, our country has always maintained a peaceful, neighborly relationship with China - one of the countries with the earliest and most brilliant civilizations in human history. With a flexible and agile diplomatic policy, over many centuries, Vietnam has always shown its goodwill to its great friend China, always putting peace, stability and independence first in the relationship between the two countries.

That tradition was continued in the 20th century with the cultivation of President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong. And now is the close, trusting relationship between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary Xi Jinping. The relationship between the two countries of Vietnam and China is increasingly deepened because the two countries have similarities in culture and politics, and together build and develop the country along the socialist path.

Developing the "bamboo diplomacy" school

In the context of a world with many changes and complexities, many challenges and unpredictable risks, the choice of foreign policy is of key significance to the development and strength of the nation and people. The consistent viewpoint in the foreign policy of our Party and State is: Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once affirmed: Vietnam has built a very special and unique foreign policy and diplomacy school of the Ho Chi Minh era. The General Secretary called it the school of "Vietnamese bamboo diplomacy".

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: VNA

“This speaks to the diplomacy imbued with the soul, character and spirit of the Vietnamese people. It is gentle and clever but very resilient, resolute, flexible and creative but very brave, steadfast and courageous in the face of all challenges and difficulties for national independence, for the freedom and happiness of the people, united and benevolent but resolute and persistent in protecting the national interests, knowing when to be soft and when to be hard, knowing when to be strong and when to be weak ...

With the right viewpoint and diplomatic policy, Vietnam has increasingly gained an important position in the region and in the international arena. Vietnam always respects and maintains trustworthy cooperative relationships with the Russian Federation, the United States, India, Japan, etc. Vietnam also participates in most international multilateral organizations under the leadership of the United Nations. This proves the "bamboo diplomacy" school as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has summarized.

For the two neighboring countries Vietnam and China, any change in the two countries will have an impact on both sides. We understand our great friend very well and vice versa, you also understand our country very well. Therefore, constantly deepeningcomprehensive strategic partnershipVietnam and China will promote bilateral relations to new heights.

In fact, in the economic field, China is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner and second largest export market. Vietnam is also China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and China's sixth largest partner in the world. Two-way trade turnover in the first 9 months of 2022 reached 132.3 billion USD, up 10.2% over the same period last year.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds talks with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of October 31. Photo: VNA

“Good neighbors, good friends”

Returning to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China, some people believe that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s choice of a Vietnamese leader to “enter the new year” after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is a very positive signal for the relationship between the two countries. The image of the two highest leaders of the two Parties hugging and shaking hands shows that.

The Vietnam-China Joint Statement after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit raised many important points and arguments. Among them was the following passage: “The two sides believe that Vietnam and China are good neighbors, good friends, connected by mountains and rivers, and good comrades and good partners with the same aspirations, sharing a common destiny, and working together for the happiness of the people, the prosperity of the country, and the noble cause of peace and development of mankind…”.

Regarding the issues in the East Sea, the Statement stated: “The two sides agreed to actively promote discussions on cooperation for joint development at sea and discussions on delimitation of the sea area outside the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, promoting the early achievement of substantial progress in the above two issues. The two sides are willing to continue to actively implement cooperation in less sensitive areas at sea; actively discuss deepening and expanding cooperation at sea in the Gulf of Tonkin on the basis of meeting the practical interests of both sides.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries. Photo: VNA

The two sides agreed to continue to promote the comprehensive and effective implementation of the “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea” (DOC), on the basis of consultation and consensus, to soon reach an effective “Code of Conduct in the East Sea” (COC) with substantive content, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); well control disagreements at sea, take no actions that complicate the situation and expand disputes, maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and promote cooperation at sea.”