On Tuesday, China’s Party General Secretary and President, Xi Jinping, along with his spouse Peng Liyuan, are set to arrive in Hanoi for his third visit to Vietnam in eight years.
Scheduled for December 12-13, this state visit marks Xi’s third trip to Vietnam in his current roles, building upon previous visits in 2015 and 2017.
The visit provides a significant opportunity for the highest-ranking leaders of both parties to strengthen strategic exchanges under new circumstances.
Throughout the visit, an array of key cooperation documents is anticipated to be signed, spanning diverse fields such as Party channel cooperation, national security and defense, justice, communications, trade, investment, digital economy, green development, agricultural import and export, irrigation, and maritime cooperation.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu foresees this visit as a catalyst for elevating Vietnam-China relations to a “new level,” generating tangible outcomes. The expected agreements will establish a crucial foundation for enhanced collaboration among agencies, localities, people, and businesses of both nations.
Vietnamese Ambassador to China, Pham Sao Mai, notes that this visit will inject additional momentum into bilateral relations, particularly as Vietnam and China commemorate their 15th anniversary of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Mai emphasizes that Vietnam will extend a special welcome to Xi, reflecting the friendship, comradeship, and brotherhood between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo underscores the potential focal point of discussions on transport infrastructure, particularly railways and highways. This visit aligns with the accelerated implementation of the Hekou (Yunnan) – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway project.
Chinese media also shine a spotlight on Xi’s visit, emphasizing that it “will certainly strengthen mutual political trust between the two countries and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.”
China remains Vietnam’s largest trade partner, with Vietnam standing as China’s foremost partner in ASEAN. In 2022, bilateral trade turnover reached $175.6 billion, with Vietnam’s exports at $57.7 billion and imports at $117.87 billion, according to Vietnam Customs.
As of October 20, China holds the 6th position among 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 4,105 active projects totaling $26.5 billion in capital.
