National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping during Hue's official visit to China from April 7 to April 14 (Photo: VOV)

This is Mr. Hue's first visit to China as Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, and also the first direct meeting between the heads of the two countries' legislatures following the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The visit follows Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, during which the two sides issued a joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future of strategic significance.

Staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of overseas Vietnamese in China welcome National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing (Photo: VOV)

Foundation for bilateral ties strengthened

Vietnam and China are neighboring countries and both are socialist countries led by the Communist Party. The traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, painstakingly built and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, President Mao Zedong, and the two countries' revolutionary predecessors, is a valuable common asset of the two Parties, countries, and peoples.

In the 16 years since the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2008, bilateral ties have steadily expanded in all fields, achieving much progress. The historic visits by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in December 2023 created momentum for the two countries to elevate their relationship.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said: "The outstanding feature of meetings between high-ranking leaders of the two countries is that they affirm that they take the other country as the priority in their external relations. Vietnam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice. Meanwhile, China emphasized its persistent policy of maintaining friendship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority in its neighboring diplomacy. China also affirmed its support for Vietnam's prosperous development, happy people, and building a strong, independent, and self-reliant economy."

Economic, trade and investment cooperation has grown steadily, becoming a bright spot in bilateral ties recently. Cooperation in other fields has achieved many practical results, contributing to strengthening the social foundation of the two countries' relationship. The two sides have worked closely to build a land border of peace, friendship, and cooperation, contributing to the socio-economic development of border localities. At the same time, they have maintained exchanges and managed encounters at sea in accordance with international law.

Strategic directions for bilateral ties

The exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies play an important role in the overall relationship between the two Parties and countries. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s ongoing visit continues the tradition of close exchanges between senior leaders of the legislative bodies of Vietnam and China.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said: "I think this visit is very important, deepening the relationship between the two countries' legislative bodies, and strengthening Vietnam-China cooperation in all fields. Within the framework of the visit, the two legislatures will sign a new cooperation agreement and build a new high-level dialogue mechanism."

Chairman Hue’s visit will also strengthen exchanges of experience in legislative work and promote the legislature’s role in overseeing and accelerating the implementation of reached agreements.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said: "The visit also aims to concretize six major directions of cooperation between the two countries, in particular promoting "greater political trust" and consolidating a "stronger social foundation", contributing to raising the level of the bilateral partnership.. In addition, in the context that the relationship between the the two legislative bodies has been consolidated and well-developed, the visit is expected to contribute to deepening and improving the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation."

Vietnam and China have always persevered in strategic orientation, maintained the leadership of the two Parties, and attached importance to exchanging experience in Party building, national management, and socio-economic development. They have helped each other realize shared long-term goals. On that foundation, Chairman  Hue’s visit will elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.