Vietnam-China relations are constantly promoted to new heights.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950 - January 18, 2025) and the "Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year," Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh gave an interview to a VNA reporter in Beijing about the outstanding achievements in the bilateral relationship as well as expectations for cooperation in the coming time.

– 2025 is a significant milestone as Vietnam and China celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Ambassador, what are the outstanding achievements of the bilateral relationship over the past 75 years?

Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh: 75 years ago, on January 18, 1950, shortly after its founding, the People's Republic of China was the first country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), marking an important milestone in the history of the development of Vietnam-China relations.

During the 75 years of development, although the relationship between the two countries has had ups and downs, friendship and cooperation are still the main stream. The two Parties, two countries and two peoples have stood side by side, giving each other great and valuable support and assistance, contributing to the success of the cause of national liberation revolution and the cause of national construction and development of each country.

The friendship of “both comrades and brothers” personally cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong of China and many generations of leaders of the two countries has become a valuable asset of both peoples. Especially since the normalization of relations in 1991, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has been continuously promoted to new heights, achieving many important achievements and milestones:

In terms of politics, the leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly (NPC) and Fatherland Front (CPPCC) of the two countries regularly meet, contact and exchange closely in many flexible forms, playing an important role in consolidating and promoting the tradition of friendship, enhancing political trust, expanding and deepening cooperation areas, controlling disagreements well, orienting and promoting the healthy and long-term stable development of Vietnam-China relations.

The two sides have determined to develop bilateral relations under the motto of “friendly neighbors, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and looking toward the future” (1999) and the spirit of “good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners” (2005); agreed to establish the framework of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2008) – the highest cooperation framework in Vietnam’s relations with countries around the world.

In particular, following the official visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (October 2022), during the State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (December 2023), the two sides agreed to continue to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, build a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, and propose six major cooperation directions to promote Vietnam-China relations to a new, comprehensive and sustainable stage of development, including: higher political trust, more substantive defense-security cooperation, deeper substantive cooperation, a more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, better control and resolution of disagreements, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

Then, during the very successful state visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam (August 2024), the leaders of the two countries continued to affirm that developing bilateral relations is a priority in each country's foreign policy, agreed to further strengthen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the direction of "6 more", adding momentum to maintain the positive development momentum of the bilateral relationship, creating a strong spillover effect to all levels and sectors, forming a vibrant, effective, practical cooperative atmosphere and achieving many important achievements in all fields.

On the afternoon of August 19, 2024, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two countries. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

Along with that, the mechanisms for exchange and cooperation between the Party, Parliament, Fatherland Front channels and cooperation between ministries, branches, localities, as well as cooperation in multilateral mechanisms... have also witnessed strong developments, increasingly substantive and in-depth, with many effective cooperation mechanisms and programs, contributing to enriching the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Economic and trade relations between the two countries have continuously developed strongly and increasingly deepened.

Vietnam has remained for many years China's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, largest import market and second largest export market.

In 2024 alone, the first year Vietnam and China implement agreements and common perceptions after upgrading bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation continues to reach new heights, exceeding 200 billion USD.

Vietnam is now China’s fourth largest trading partner in the world. Thus, in more than three decades since the normalization of relations in 1991, bilateral trade turnover has increased more than 6,400 times (from 32 million USD to 200 billion USD), clearly demonstrating the strong development and connectivity in economic and trade relations between the two countries.

In terms of investment, China has now become the third largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 31.8 billion USD. This figure marks a significant increase compared to its previous position as the ninth largest investor, with a total registered capital of about 8 billion USD at the end of 2014.

The fields of people-to-people exchange, culture and tourism between the two countries have achieved many encouraging results.

There are currently more than 23,000 Vietnamese students living and studying in China.

The number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam is constantly growing (in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam welcomed 5.8 million Chinese visitors, accounting for 30% of total international visitors).

After the pandemic, by the end of 2024, Vietnam welcomed about 3.7 million Chinese visitors (an increase of 214.4% compared to 2023), ranking second after South Korea.

By the end of 2024, Vietnam will have welcomed about 3.7 million Chinese visitors (an increase of 214.4% compared to 2023). (Source: VNA)

The two countries have resolved two of the three border and territorial issues, signed the Land Border Agreement in 1999, completed land border demarcation in 2008, and signed the Gulf of Tonkin Demarcation Agreement in 2000.

Regarding the settlement of maritime disputes, the senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries have reached many important common perceptions on controlling disputes and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

The two sides signed the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China maritime issues” (2011), established and regularly maintained a government-level negotiation mechanism on territorial borders and three expert-level negotiation mechanisms on the sea area outside the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, on cooperation in less sensitive areas at sea and cooperation for joint development at sea.

Valuable lessons learned in the process of negotiating to resolve the land border issue and the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin, together with the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the resolution of Vietnam-China maritime issues” and the common perception reached between the two countries’ senior leaders, will create the premise and confidence for the two sides to continue negotiating and seeking measures to gradually resolve the East Sea issue peacefully on the basis of the friendly relations between the two countries, respecting each other’s legitimate rights and interests, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China.

It can be said that the fact that the relationship between the two countries has been constantly promoted, expanded and deepened reflects the strategic vision of the senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries, bringing many practical benefits to the people of the two countries, while creating a peaceful, stable and favorable environment for mutual development, actively contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

– According to the Ambassador, where should Vietnam and China focus their cooperation when entering a new stage of development? What are your expectations for the development of bilateral relations in the future?

Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh: Now is a favorable time to promote the relationship between the two countries to enter a new stage of development at a higher, deeper and more substantial level.

The two sides need to focus on promoting the implementation and concretizing the high-level common perception on deepening and elevating the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future with strategic significance in the direction of "6 more", specifically as follows:

Firstly, coordinate well in preparing for high-level exchanges and contacts in the coming time to maintain strategic exchanges and enhance political trust; effectively implement mechanisms and exchange programs through the Party channel and between the Government, National Assembly, Vietnam Fatherland Front and relevant agencies of China; continue to deepen and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defense, security and between levels, sectors and localities; practically implement activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Second, continue to deepen substantive cooperation in various fields, achieving many concrete results. Strengthen the material foundation for bilateral relations, promote investment and trade cooperation, expand the import of goods, especially Vietnamese agricultural products; focus on implementing major projects, new symbols of cooperation in Vietnam-China relations.

Consider the implementation of three standard gauge railway lines connecting the two countries (Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi, Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong) as the highest priority in strategic infrastructure connection cooperation between the two sides.

Expand cooperation in areas where China has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green growth, clean energy, etc.

Third, enhance people-to-people exchanges and further consolidate the social foundation of bilateral relations.

The year 2025 was chosen by the two countries as the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year. It is necessary to consider this as an opportunity to promote people-to-people exchanges and promote friendship; promote tourism recovery; promote the effectiveness of "red addresses" bearing revolutionary imprints to educate the young generations of Vietnam and China about the traditional friendship between the two Parties and countries; and effectively implement the Cultural-Tourism Cooperation Plan for the period 2023-2027 between the two countries.

Fourth, the two sides need to coordinate well in managing the land border, increase exchanges, find solutions to promote cooperation and development, promote infrastructure connectivity, cross-border traffic, especially railways connecting the two countries, and turn the border between the two countries into a border of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

It is necessary to control disagreements at sea well, promote progress in negotiation mechanisms; respect each other's legitimate rights and interests, in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982 and DOC.

I firmly believe that when the two sides coordinate well to implement the important common perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, as well as focus on doing well the above-mentioned cooperation focuses, the Vietnam-China relationship in the coming time will continue to be consolidated and develop more comprehensively and substantially, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

– Dear Ambassador, what activities and events does the Vietnamese Embassy in China plan to carry out during the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year to foster friendship and enhance people-to-people exchange between the two countries?

Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh: It can be said that cultural exchange is one of the most basic and important directions in the overall Vietnam-China relationship.

2025 is the occasion for the two countries to celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, and is also the year chosen by senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries as the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year.

This is an opportunity for the two sides to coordinate in organizing meaningful commemorative activities, people-to-people exchanges, culture and art, to enhance understanding, cultivate and promote the traditional friendship between the people of the two countries, especially the young generation.

Currently, the Embassy is actively coordinating with relevant agencies of both sides to organize cultural exchange activities within the framework of the Reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations in the host country.

The program is expected to have the participation of many celebrities from all walks of life in China, along with many special and meaningful performances such as a photo exhibition promoting the image of the country and its people, introducing Vietnamese culture and tourism, performing arts activities with the participation of artists from both countries, and booths introducing Vietnamese cuisine and agricultural products.

I believe that through these activities, the friendship between the two countries will be increasingly strengthened and open up many opportunities for cooperation in the future.

- Thank you very much, Ambassador./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/quan-he-viet-nam-trung-quoc-khong-ngung-duoc-thuc-day-len-tam-cao-moi-post1008073.vnp