Continuously strengthen and develop relations between the ...

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai gave an interview to the press about the relationship between the two countries as well as the meaning and importance of the visit.

Reporter: Could you please tell us the purpose and significance of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's official visit to China?

Ambassador Pham Sao Mai: At the invitation of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on an official visit to the People's Republic of China from April 7-12, 2024.

This is the first visit to China by Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue as Chairman of the National Assembly, and also the first direct meeting between the Heads of the Legislative Bodies of the two countries after the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, right after the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (December 2023) with the two sides issuing a "Joint Statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Community of Shared Future between Vietnam and China of strategic significance".

This visit by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is of great significance in maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts, orienting the strategic direction for bilateral relations, concretizing the common perception between the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries; affirming that Vietnam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice in foreign policy. The visit also aims to concretize 6 major cooperation directions between the two countries, especially promoting "higher political trust" and consolidating "a more solid social foundation", contributing to raising the level of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Besides, in the context of the relationship between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the National People's Congress of China being constantly consolidated and developed well, the visit will contribute to deepening and improving the effectiveness of cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries; affirming the very important role of the foreign affairs of our National Assembly in the cause of national development.

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

Reporter: Could you please evaluate the relationship between the two countries in recent times?

Ambassador Pham Sao Mai: Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries, sharing many similarities in culture, political institutions and development paths. Over the past time, under the joint efforts of both sides, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has maintained a very positive development momentum and achieved many important achievements in all fields, reflected in the following aspects:

Firstly, high-level and all-level exchanges have been enhanced. Leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly (NPC) and Fatherland Front (CPPCC) of the two countries, through flexible forms, regularly meet, contact and exchange closely, contributing to enhancing political trust and firmly consolidating the political foundation of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries. In particular, the two historic mutual visits of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (October 2022) and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping have contributed to adding strong momentum for the two Parties and two countries to continuously consolidate and elevate the friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, December 13, 2023. (Photo: DUY LINH)

The most notable point in the meetings was that both sides affirmed that they consider the other country a priority in their foreign policies. Vietnam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice, always wishing to work with China to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral relations, for the happiness of the people of both countries, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

China emphasizes its persistent policy of friendship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority in its neighborly diplomacy. China also affirms its support for Vietnam's prosperous development, people's happiness, building a strong, independent and self-reliant economy, synchronously promoting the cause of innovation, industrialization, modernization, comprehensive international integration, developing open and friendly foreign relations, and playing an increasingly important role for peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

Second, economic, trade and investment cooperation has been continuously deepened and substantive, becoming a bright spot in the bilateral relationship in recent times. China remains Vietnam's largest trading partner and second largest export market, while Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and China's fifth largest partner in the world (after the US, Japan, South Korea and Russia).

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at a meeting with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping on December 13, 2023. (Photo: DUY LINH)

In 2023, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and China will reach 171.9 billion USD according to Vietnam Customs; and 229.8 billion USD according to China Customs. In the first two months of 2024, bilateral import-export turnover reached 27.3 billion USD (up 28%), of which Vietnam's exports to China reached 8 billion USD (up 7.6%), and imports from China reached 19.3 billion USD (up 38.8%).

Regarding investment, in 2023, China invested 4.47 billion USD in Vietnam, an increase of 77.5%, ranking 4th among all countries and territories, but leading in the number of new projects (accounting for 22.17%); in the first quarter of 2024, China led in the number of new FDI projects invested in Vietnam (accounting for 27.8%). The two sides also actively coordinated to gradually remove and resolve outstanding problems in a number of previous economic cooperation projects.

Third, cooperation in other fields such as culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchange has achieved many practical results, contributing to strengthening the social foundation of the two countries' relationship.

To date, nearly 60 provinces/cities in Vietnam have established friendly cooperative relations with Chinese localities. China has basically restored commercial flights to Vietnam; currently there are more than 200 flights between the two countries each week; China has re-issued visas for Vietnamese students and workers returning to China. In 2023, there were more than 1.7 million Chinese visitors to Vietnam; in the first 3 months of 2024, there were nearly 890,000 visitors, an increase of 634.5% over the same period last year.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping speaks at a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on December 13, 2023. (Photo: DUY LINH)

Fourth, the two sides have achieved many results in building a peaceful, friendly and cooperative Vietnam-China land border, contributing to the socio-economic development of border localities. The two sides also strive to maintain exchanges and control disagreements at sea, in accordance with the provisions of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; actively deploy negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues, promote full and effective implementation of the DOC, strive to build a substantive, effective and efficient COC, contributing to ensuring peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Reporter: How has the Vietnamese Embassy in China prepared for this important visit? What are your expectations for the results of the visit and the bilateral relationship in the future?

Ambassador Pham Sao Mai: The Vietnamese Embassy in China attaches great importance to the official visit to China by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, identifying this as the current focus of the Embassy's work. The Embassy has proactively and actively participated in advance working delegations, maintained close and regular contact with relevant agencies of both sides to connect and exchange information on the program and content of the visit, and the progress of preparations, ensuring the success of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's official visit to China.

Through this visit, I hope that both sides can achieve substantive results, specifically:

Firstly, promoting the relationship between the two Parties, two countries, and two National Assemblies to continue to develop positively in the coming time, contributing to concretizing the achievements and new contents of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Second, promote exchanges and experiences in legislative work, as well as strengthen social foundations and enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

Third, promote the important role in monitoring and urging the active implementation of the agreements reached.

Fourth, strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, and coordinate in ensuring the implementation of international treaties to which both sides are parties, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Reporter: Thank you very much, Ambassador!

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