(VOVworld)- Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang is on an official visit to Vietnam. The 3-day visit is of great importance in strengthening and enhancing political trust and boosting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. VOV editor Anh Huyen sheds light on the development of bilateral ties.
Since opening its door 30 years ago, China has had remarkable achievements in socio-economic development. In 2010, China became the world’s second largest economy with GDP growth of 10.3%. In its foreign policy, China has persistently pursued a peaceful development path. In the region, China focuses on strengthening relationships with neighboring countries by promoting the policy: “be harmonious, pacify and enrich the neighbors”.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Premier Li Keqiang held high-level talks in Hanoi on October 13 (Photo:VGP)
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Since Vietnam and China normalized their relations in 1991, friendship and cooperation between the two countries have developed rapidly and widely in all areas. The two have signed several treaties and cooperative agreements laying a legal foundation for long-term cooperation. The exchange of visits at central and local levels has increased, now totaling 200 visits a year, helping to strengthen mutual understanding and expand bilateral cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuan You says:“ The relationship between China and Vietnam has been nurtured by the leaders and peoples of the two countries over the years. Both are now in a key period of socio-economic development and both peoples share the desire for further exchanges. The Chinese have an idiom “Far better a neighbor that is near than a brother far away.” Vietnam and China are close neighbors so it is important to strengthen exchanges at different levels”.
Strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation
Since 2004, China has been Vietnam’s leading trade partner. Last year, two-way trade totaled more than 41 billion USD with Vietnam’s exports to China improving significantly. So far this year, the figure has reached nearly 32 billion USD. Thanks to their 5-year economic and trade cooperation plan until 2016, investment cooperation between the two countries has increased. Many large Chinese economic groups have expanded their investment in Vietnam. As of September this year, China had 934 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 4.8 billion USD, ranking 13th among 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Over the past few years, China has increased its preferential credits for Vietnam. So far, China has granted 1.6 billion USD worth of preferential loans to help Vietnam in the industrial sector, mining, rail transport, energy, garments and textiles and chemicals. In addition, the Chinese government has granted Vietnam non-refundable aids to organize youth exchanges and tours to survey China’s socio-economic development and provide medical equipment to a number of hospitals in Vietnam.
Enhancing people-to-people exchanges
Over the past few years, the two countries have strengthened cooperation in education, training, culture and sports. Every year China provides 130 long-term scholarships and 10 post-graduate scholarships to Vietnam. They have particularly strengthened people-to-people exchanges to foster their traditional friendship. Prior to the Chinese Prime Minister’s visit, the two sides agreed to build a Vietnamese-Chinese Friendship Palace, one of the principal friendship projects in recent years. President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization Vu Xuan Hong says: “Vietnam and China share cultural similarities, which have brought their bilateral ties closer. Once operational, the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace will serve as a lively symbol of the fine relations between the two countries in the new period”.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Vietnam will contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and political trust. The visit will also heighten the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefits of their peoples.