Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, along with his spouse Peng Liyuan, is set to embark on a two-day state visit to Vietnam from December 12 to 13. The invitation for the visit was extended by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, as well as President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse, according to a press release from the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.
This visit holds significance as both Vietnam and China commemorate the 15th anniversary of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership. It marks Xi Jinping’s third visit to Vietnam in his capacity as China’s Party General Secretary and President.
China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching $175.6 billion in 2022. Vietnam’s exports accounted for $57.7 billion, while imports were at $117.87 billion, as reported by Vietnam Customs. As of September 20, China ranked 6th among 144 countries and territories with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Vietnam, boasting 4,023 active projects totaling over $26 billion in capital.
In October 2022, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China, becoming the first high-ranking foreign leader to do so after the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The visit was deemed highly important and successful in all aspects.
During a reception for Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on December 1, President Vo Van Thuong emphasized the close relationship between Vietnam and China, citing historical, cultural, and ideological similarities. Vietnam considers its ties with China as a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy. Both countries are urged to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as diplomacy, defense, security, as well as enhance collaboration in fields like economy, trade, investment, transport, and people-to-people exchanges.
Minister Wang Yi expressed China’s commitment to maintaining a friendly, comprehensive, and cooperative relationship with Vietnam. He emphasized that China prioritizes its neighbor diplomacy policies with Vietnam and will continue to support Vietnam’s efforts in industrialization and modernization.
