Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries "mountains connected to mountains, rivers connected to rivers", with many cultural similarities. The relationship between the two peoples has been cultivated through long-term exchanges in history and has been tested and tempered over time. In relations between neighboring countries, the most sustainable thing is knowing how to recognize relations from a strategic height with a long-term vision; knowing how to cherish the values that have been painstakingly nurtured by previous generations; knowing how to put the basic and long-term interests of the people first and foremost. That is also how Vietnam views and develops relations with China.
For more than 100 years, the Vietnamese revolution has been deeply associated with the Chinese revolution. In 1925, in Guangzhou, China, beloved leader of the Vietnamese people Nguyen Ai Quoc founded the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association (Association), preparing politically, ideologically and organizationally for the birth of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The headquarters of the Association at Van Minh Road, Guangzhou city, China and the birth of Thanh Nien Newspaper have become landmarks and milestones that cannot be separated from the history of the Vietnamese revolution. In early 1941, from Guangxi, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc returned to Pac Bo, Cao Bang to directly lead the Vietnamese revolution, opening a decisive turning point for the cause of national independence of the Vietnamese people.
The Vietnam-China friendship has been painstakingly nurtured by previous generations of leaders of the two countries, from President Ho Chi Minh, President Mao Zedong, Prime Minister Zhou Enlai to many generations of communists and people of the two countries. During the period of national liberation struggle, the two sides have given each other valuable support and assistance. Entering the stage of national construction, the two countries have persistently chosen the path of development suitable to their conditions, jointly carrying out renovation, reform, opening up and international integration, thereby achieving many historically significant achievements. Vietnam always remembers and appreciates the support that the Party, State and People of China have given to Vietnam in difficult periods.
2026 marks the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Throughout that journey, Vietnam-China relations have overcome ups and downs, but friendship and cooperation are still the main flow. Historical practice shows that the good and sustainable relationship between the two countries is in line with the practical interests of the Vietnamese and Chinese people and beneficial to peace and development in the region.
With that important awareness, Vietnam-China relations are always concerned and nurtured by the two Parties and two countries. The Party and State of Vietnam always identify developing relations with China as a consistent policy, objective requirement, strategic choice and top priority in the overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, multilateralization, and diversification. The Party and State of China also identify Vietnam as a priority direction in neighborly diplomacy and has an important position in China's overall foreign policy. It is not only an inheritance of history, but also a choice stemming from the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries, in line with the aspirations of the people of the two countries and the requirement to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for development in the new period.
On the basis of friendly neighborly relations, mutual respect and equal cooperation, in recent years, the highest leaders of the two sides have promptly made correct decisions, from defining the "16 words" motto, the "4 goods" spirit, to establishing a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership framework, building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future with strategic significance and promoting relations in the direction of "6 more". The important thing is not only the new concepts, but also the fact that the two sides have jointly affirmed the need to recognize and develop Vietnam-China relations from a strategic height with a long-term vision, considering your development as our development opportunity.
With those common perceptions, high-level exchanges between the two Parties and two countries are maintained more regularly; cooperation mechanisms across all channels of the Party, Government, National Assembly/People's Congress, Fatherland Front/Party Committee are implemented more synchronously. Last March, the two countries successfully organized the "3+3" Strategic Dialogue at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and Public Security for the first time, which is a new development in strategic connection cooperation between the two countries, showing that bilateral relations are going deeper and more substantive.
Despite the very complicated international situation, bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation is constantly developing. Bilateral trade turnover in 2025 grew impressively with two digits; Vietnam maintains its position as China's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries and China's fourth largest globally; China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and the second largest export market. Cooperation in connecting supply chains, logistics, infrastructure, science, technology, digital economy, and green economy are progressing rapidly. The two countries are determined to promote railway connectivity cooperation, and three standard railway projects in the Northern Vietnam region are actively promoted by both sides, achieving positive breakthroughs.
People-to-people exchanges continue to develop more deeply, creating an increasingly solid social foundation for bilateral relations. The Vietnam - China Year of Humanities Exchange 2025 is implemented through many rich activities; youth, scholar, local and cultural exchange programs are promoted. The "Red Journey of Research and Learning of Vietnamese Youth in China" program launched by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and me in April 2025 has been actively implemented, attracting a large number of young people to participate. Through this, helping the young generations of the two countries understand each other better, have a deeper understanding of the tradition of friendship, and have a deeper awareness of the mission of becoming a force with ambition to follow in the footsteps of previous generations, and continue to nurture Vietnam - China relations.
For Vietnam-China relations to achieve comprehensive and substantial achievements as today, the most important factor is sincerity, trust, and mutual understanding between senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries; the joint efforts, drastic involvement, strong support, and persistent efforts of departments, ministries, branches, localities, business communities and people of the two countries. The Party, State and People of Vietnam deeply appreciate the friendly and dedicated feelings of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping towards each step of the development of Vietnam-China relations in recent years.
The world is undergoing very profound contemporary changes, creating both opportunities and major challenges. Vietnam enters the stage of implementing the Resolution of the XIV National Congress with two 100-year strategic goals. Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo of Vietnam also identifies the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the top important breakthrough, the main driving force for rapid and sustainable development. On the Chinese side, 2026 marks the beginning of the period of implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan with a focus on high-quality development, science and technology self-reliance, green transformation and openness at a higher level.
Precisely from the new requirements of the times and from the new development tasks of each country, in my opinion, the two sides need to focus on doing well 4 major tasks together.
First of all, it is necessary to continue to consolidate the political foundation of Vietnam-China relations to become increasingly solid. The strategic orientation of the highest leaders of the two Parties and the two countries plays a decisive role in the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to maintain regular high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic sharing, promote the role of existing mechanisms, and at the same time more effectively implement cooperation on all channels of the Party, Government, National Assembly/People's Congress, Fatherland Front/People's Committee, as well as between sectors and levels. The deeper the strategic trust relationship, the more conditions there are to expand substantive cooperation and better handle issues raised in practice.
Second, it is necessary to create a stronger shift in substantive cooperation, taking specific results as a measure. In the coming period, cooperation between the two countries needs to strongly shift from "increasing scale" to "improving quality"; from expanding trade to deeper connections between development strategies, economic corridors, production chains, supply chains and strategic infrastructure. Vietnam wishes to join China in accelerating the implementation of railway, high-speed road, border trade infrastructure (logistics, smart border gates...) connection projects; promote more balanced, healthy and sustainable trade development; create conditions for investment from China into Vietnam to increasingly focus on priority areas and strengths of China.
Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation need to become new highlights of Vietnam-China relations. Vietnam is putting this field at the center of the country's development strategy; China is also strongly promoting high-quality development, science and technology self-reliance and new production forces. Promoting cooperation in this field is both economic development and strategically significant for the autonomy capacity of each country.
Third, it is necessary to further deepen the social foundation of the two countries' relations. Relations between the two countries are only truly sustainable when nurtured and cultivated in the hearts of the people, especially in the young generation. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to promote the results of the Vietnam - China Year of Humanities Exchange 2025; create a real breakthrough in tourism development and cooperation 2026 - 2027, expand youth, education, tourism, culture, journalism, and local exchanges; and more effectively exploit the "red addresses" of the revolutionary history of the two countries to educate traditions and enhance mutual understanding. I hope that more and more students, young scientists, and young entrepreneurs of the two countries will come together in learning, research, entrepreneurship and practical exchange programs, because they themselves will continue to write a new chapter of Vietnam - China relations in the 21st century.
Fourth, along with expanding cooperation, the two sides need to continue to maintain a peaceful and stable environment, well control disagreements and properly handle existing issues. In the relationship between the two neighboring countries, the value of good relations is not only reflected in favorable areas of cooperation, but also in the ability to jointly handle differences through dialogue, restraint, mutual respect and responsibility to the overall relationship between the two countries. Vietnam wishes to work with China to persistently resolve disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of high-level common understanding, international law and the legitimate interests of each side; and at the same time strengthen coordination in multilateral mechanisms, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.
Vietnam is entering a new stage of development with great will and aspirations. We understand clearly that to develop quickly and sustainably, we must maintain a peaceful environment; to successfully implement the goals to 2030 and 2045, we must maximize internal strength, and at the same time expand effective international cooperation on the basis of independence and self-reliance. In the entire orientation, relations with China have always been identified by Vietnam as a strategic priority. This stems from geographical proximity, historical attachment, many cultural similarities, increasingly deep intertwined interests in development, and from the common responsibility of the two countries for peace, stability and prosperity of the region.
I believe that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with the core being comrade Xi Jinping, the Chinese people will continue to successfully implement the 15th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, achieving more new achievements in the modernization of the country. Vietnam always considers China's stable and high-quality development as an important factor for peace, cooperation and development in the region, and also an opportunity for neighboring countries, including Vietnam.
I also believe that, with the foundation of friendship painstakingly nurtured by previous generations of the two countries, with the high-level common understanding that has been established, with the determination of all levels, sectors, localities and with the companionship of the people of the two countries, Vietnam - China relations will certainly continue to develop stably, healthily, sustainably and long-term, bringing more practical benefits to the two Parties, States and people of the two countries, making more positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world. My visit to China this time takes place with that spirit, with that expectation, and with the desire to work with Chinese leaders to continue to open a new development space, elevating the strategic connection between the two countries in the coming time.
