Enhancing the effectiveness and quality of Vietnam-China cooperation according to the "6 more" orientation.

Ambassador, could you please elaborate on the importance and significance of General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to China for the comprehensive strategic partnership and the building of a shared future community between Vietnam and China?

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai:At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his wife, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam and his wife will pay a State visit to the People's Republic of China from August 18-20, 2024.

The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam is of paramount importance. This is the first foreign visit of General Secretary and President To Lam in his new capacity, demonstrating the high regard that the Vietnamese Party and State attach to the development of friendly neighborly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China. The visit takes place at a crucial time for each Party, each country, and for Vietnam-China relations. Vietnam is striving to successfully achieve the goals and tasks set forth in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam; conducting a review of 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation) and gradually preparing for the 14th National Congress. China is accelerating the implementation of development tasks and goals, and deepening reforms as defined at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Vietnam-China relations have maintained a very positive development momentum and achieved many important accomplishments in all fields. Both sides agreed to continue deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building a strategically significant Vietnam-China community with a shared future, and striving for the happiness of the people of both countries, and for the cause of peace and progress of humanity. This visit by General Secretary and President To Lam to China is an opportunity for high-level leaders of the two Parties and two countries to continue in-depth strategic exchanges, identifying major directions and measures to promote the stable, substantive, and more effective development of Vietnam-China relations in the future.

Ambassador, could you share some of the highlights of the General Secretary and President's visit? How has the Vietnamese Embassy in China prepared for this important event, Ambassador?

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai:The State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to China is highly valued by both Vietnam and China, with meticulous arrangements and preparations in both program and content. General Secretary and President To Lam will hold important talks and meetings with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking Chinese leaders. Both sides will inform each other about the situation of their respective parties and countries, and engage in in-depth discussions on strengthening and deepening bilateral relations. This includes promoting the tradition of regular high-level exchanges, further consolidating political trust, promoting the effective implementation of high-level common understandings and signed agreements, expanding and improving the effectiveness and quality of cooperation in areas guided by the "six more" principles, and deepening substantive cooperation to achieve tangible results and benefits for the people of both countries.

General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to China takes place at a very special time, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's journey from Moscow to Guangzhou as a representative of the Communist International to carry out revolutionary activities. These were the years when President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese revolutionaries received the sincere and unwavering support and assistance of the Communist Party and people of China, especially in the establishment of the "Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League"—the precursor revolutionary organization of the Communist Party of Vietnam (June 1925).

Through this visit, both sides reviewed the history of the development of relations between the two Parties and two countries, continuing to inherit and promote the long-standing tradition of friendship between the two Parties, two countries, and the people of the two countries; at the same time, expressing Vietnam's deep appreciation and gratitude for China's valuable support and assistance in the past national liberation struggle, as well as in the current national construction and development.

The Vietnamese Embassy in China considers participating in the preparations for the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to China both an honor and a top priority this year. The Embassy maintains close contact with relevant agencies and localities on both sides to exchange information and coordinate the development of programs and content for the visit, and to make every effort to contribute to its success.

Vietnam has now risen to become China's fifth-largest trading partner, while economic and trade relations between the two sides have significant potential for further development, particularly in new areas of cooperation. Ambassador, could you elaborate on what steps both sides need to take and how we can continue to achieve new successes in bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation?

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai:Over the past period, economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and China has maintained strong growth and deepened significantly. Vietnam continues to be China's largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its fifth largest global trading partner. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, its largest import market, and its second largest export market. Total bilateral trade reached US$171.9 billion in 2023 and US$112.6 billion in the first seven months of 2024. Chinese direct investment in Vietnam continues its rapid growth trend, reaching US$4.47 billion in 2023 and US$1.524 billion in the first seven months of 2024.

Against the backdrop of both countries undergoing reforms, deepening opening up, developing high-quality industries, and implementing industrialization and modernization, and with the positive development of bilateral relations, both sides have many opportunities and potential to further expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Regarding trade, both sides need to continue striving to maintain a stable, balanced, and sustainable development trend; actively promote and expedite the completion of procedures to bring more Vietnamese products with competitive advantages to China for export, especially agricultural and aquatic products; and strengthen the exploration of new, potentially lucrative markets in northern, northeastern, eastern, central, and western China. It is essential to leverage and effectively utilize cooperation agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, and mechanisms like the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the ASEAN-China Expo (CAEXPO), and the Canton Fair to enhance promotion and cooperation between businesses of both sides. Furthermore, both sides need to further facilitate trade by increasing road and rail transport connectivity, effectively integrating it with maritime transport; leveraging e-commerce, upgrading and improving logistics systems; enhancing customs clearance efficiency through cooperation in building border trade infrastructure, especially smart border crossings; maintaining and ensuring the smooth flow of goods in the supply chain between the two sides; and strengthening cooperation in standardization, ensuring harmonization of standards for goods and products of Vietnam and China.

Regarding investment, both sides need to further explore the potential for cooperation in areas such as high-quality agriculture, innovation, infrastructure, digital economy, and green energy. Vietnam welcomes and is ready to create a healthy and stable investment environment for reputable and capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam. The two countries also possess potential and strengths that can complement and support each other in many areas, especially in border infrastructure connectivity, road and rail infrastructure, and high-tech projects. Furthermore, it is necessary to actively expedite coordination in resolving outstanding issues in some previous investment projects to create a positive atmosphere for new cooperation projects between the two countries.

I firmly believe that, based on the advantages, potential, needs, and existing bilateral relationship foundation, with the joint determination and efforts of the two Parties, the two countries, and the people of both countries, economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries will continue to develop, achieving many new successes, and becoming even more worthy of the current level of Vietnam-China bilateral relations.

In recent years, local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have continuously developed. According to the Ambassador, what is the significance of this cooperation in enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries in particular, and in promoting the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in general?

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai:The Vietnamese Party and State always attach importance to, support, and create conditions for Vietnamese localities and people to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese localities and people, contributing to the effective implementation of high-level agreements and common understandings, and continuously striving to consolidate and firmly cultivate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China in accordance with the wishes and interests of the people of both countries.

It can be said that, with advantages such as close geographical proximity and convenient transportation, local cooperation is increasingly becoming an important part of overall cooperation in various fields between the two countries. In recent years, the exchange and cooperation between localities and people of the two countries has been very vibrant, achieving many positive results. Annual exchange mechanisms such as the Spring Meeting between the Secretaries of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh provinces and Guangxi; the Conference between the Secretaries of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces with Yunnan; the Economic Corridor Cooperation Conference of five provinces and cities (Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh - Vietnam) and Yunnan (China)... are regularly maintained. Leaders of localities in both countries expand exchanges, visits, and interactions, thereby contributing to strengthening friendly relations and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between localities of both sides, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries.

Alongside this, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been strongly restored. Regular exchange activities such as the Vietnam-China People's Forum and youth friendship exchanges are organized more effectively and substantively, contributing to increased mutual understanding, strengthening friendship among the younger generation, and consolidating the social foundation of bilateral relations. Cooperation in culture, education, and tourism has yielded many encouraging results; currently, more than 23,000 Vietnamese students are living and studying in China; the number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam continues to increase, reaching approximately 2.1 million in the first seven months of 2024 alone.

I believe that, in the coming time, along with the stable and positive development in the relations between the two Parties and the two countries, local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges will continue to be a highlight in bilateral relations, becoming one of the driving forces for the development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Thank you, Ambassador!