People-to-people exchange continues to be a bright spot in Vietnam-China relations

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai, in recent times, the exchange and cooperation between localities and people of Vietnam and China has been vibrant and achieved many positive results. He believes that this will continue to be a bright spot in bilateral relations, becoming one of the driving forces for the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.

General Secretary, President To Lam and his wife pay a State visit to China

Opening a new stage of development for the friendly neighborly relationship between Vietnam and China

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his wife, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam and his wife will pay a State visit to the People's Republic of China from August 18-20.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai. (Photo: VNA)

In an interview with The World and Vietnam newspaper before the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said: General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to China this time is an opportunity for senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries to continue to deepen strategic exchanges, identify major directions and measures to promote the development of relations between the two Parties and two countries in a more stable, substantive and effective manner in the coming time.

Regarding the field of local cooperation and people-to-people exchange, Ambassador Pham Sao Mai stated that in recent times, the exchange and cooperation between localities and people of the two countries has been very active, achieving many positive results. Annual exchange mechanisms such as the Spring Meeting between the Secretaries of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh and Guangxi provinces; the Conference between the Secretaries of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Dien Bien provinces and Yunnan; the Conference on economic corridor cooperation of 5 provinces and cities of Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh (Vietnam) and Yunnan (China)... are maintained regularly.

Leaders of localities of the two countries expand exchanges, contacts, and visits to each other, thereby contributing to strengthening friendly relations, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between localities of the two sides, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

At the same time, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been strongly restored. Regular exchange activities such as the Vietnam-China People's Forum, youth friendship exchanges, etc. have been organized more and more effectively, contributing to increasing mutual understanding, strengthening friendship among the younger generation, and firmly consolidating the social foundation of the relationship between the two countries.

Cultural, educational and tourism cooperation has achieved many encouraging results. Currently, there are more than 23,000 Vietnamese students living and studying in China. The number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam is constantly increasing, reaching about 2.1 million in the first 7 months of 2024 alone.

Ambassador Pham Sao Mai believes that with the stable and positive development momentum in the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, local cooperation and people-to-people exchange will continue to be a bright spot in the bilateral relationship, becoming one of the driving forces for the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.

Delegates attending the 12th Vietnam - China People's Forum (Photo: VGP)

In an interview with the press, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung said that within the framework of the visit, we will discuss issues of concern to Vietnam as well as promote cooperation with a partner who is both a neighbor, a socialist country and a major country. Thereby, we will consolidate the foreign affairs environment and a favorable foreign position, mobilize external resources for the successful implementation of socio-economic development goals and the implementation of foreign affairs and international integration work set forth by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

It is expected that General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping will have exchanges at the highest strategic level of the two Parties and two countries; assess the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, especially the results achieved in implementing high-level common agreements between key leaders of the two countries. These include agreements reached during the visit of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in 2022 and the visit of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to Vietnam in 2023.

Joining the delegation, senior leaders of ministries, branches and localities will discuss new cooperation contents and mechanisms in the coming time. Along with that, there will be an exchange of measures and contents to implement the 2023 joint statement on the direction of "6 more" cooperation in 6 fields. Very importantly, the two sides will evaluate and discuss the implementation of high-level agreements; discuss the proposed directions; add more contents, contents and measures to make the relationship between the two countries increasingly solid, comprehensive and practical.

During this State visit, in addition to meetings with key Chinese leaders, there will be very important activities for the Chinese people and representatives of the Chinese people.

On August 15, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice on the State visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that General Secretary To Lam's choice of China as the first country to visit after taking office fully reflected the high importance he attaches to developing relations between the two Parties and countries of China and Vietnam.

China hopes that through this visit, the two countries will continue to promote their traditional friendship, deepen the building of the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future, jointly walk the path of socialist modernization with its own characteristics, jointly promote the development of the world socialist cause, and make positive contributions to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/giao-luu-nhan-dan-tiep-tuc-la-diem-sang-trong-quan-he-viet-nam-trung-quoc-203596.html