Beijing, August 19, 2024, The Europe Today: On Monday, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China, held talks with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President of Vietnam, in Beijing.
Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Lam on his first official visit to China since assuming his role as the General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee. Xi congratulated Lam on his election and highlighted the significance of Lam’s decision to make China his first overseas destination, emphasizing the importance both nations place on their bilateral relations.
Xi expressed his commitment to fostering a strong working relationship and personal friendship with Lam, aimed at guiding the substantial development of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. He noted that amid global changes, both China and Vietnam have demonstrated the advantages of the socialist system through rapid economic development and long-term social stability.
During the talks, Xi underscored China’s priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, affirming China’s support for Vietnam in maintaining the leadership of the CPV, pursuing a socialist path suited to its national conditions, and advancing reforms, opening up, and modernization.
Xi called for deeper cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the need to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen security cooperation, and expand practical collaborations. He suggested accelerating infrastructure connectivity through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam’s Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, as well as enhancing customs cooperation and building secure industrial and supply chains.
As the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic relations approaches next year, Xi proposed a series of joint activities, including the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges, to further strengthen popular support and bilateral ties.
Xi also advocated for upholding the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, promoting a multi-polar world and equitable economic globalization, and supporting the common interests of developing countries. He briefed Lam on the outcomes of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, emphasizing China’s continued commitment to deepening reforms and high-level opening-up, which he said would create new opportunities for Vietnam and other nations.
In closing, Xi reiterated China’s willingness to deepen the exchange of governance experiences with Vietnam and to jointly pursue modernization and national development.
