From December 12-13, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping will pay a State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong. On this occasion, VietNamNet had an interview with Vice President of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association Nguyen Vinh Quang. Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang used to be the Director of the China - Northeast Asia Department (Central Foreign Affairs Commission), Consul - Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to China. He is an in-depth researcher on China and Vietnam - China relations.
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2023 is the year that Vietnam-China relations develop smoothly. After the Covid-19 pandemic, exchange activities and delegation exchanges were restored, starting with the visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (October 30 - November 1, 2022). The visit is of great significance, one could say historic, opening a new phase for the relationship between the two countries and resolving a number of difficult issues between the two countries. After that visit, many high-ranking leaders, ministries, and localities of the two countries have met and interacted with each other. On our side, we can mention President Vo Van Thuong attending the 3rd Belt and Road Summit in Beijing (October); Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited China, attended the World Economic Forum in Tianjin (June), and recently attended the China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Trade and Investment Summit in Guangxi (September); or the visit of Standing Member of the Secretariat, Head of the Organizing Committee Truong Thi Mai (April)... On the Chinese side, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi came to Vietnam to co-chair the meeting of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation; Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Wang Yong visited Vietnam; visits by the Secretaries of the Hainan and Yunnan Provincial Party Committees, and the Guangxi Regional Party Committees... In such a short period of time, such exchanges, meetings, and contacts are rare. Because both sides have recognized the significance of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit, and realized that the relationship between the two countries is at its most favorable stage of development. Not only politics and diplomacy but also economics, trade, and people-to-people exchanges... have been strengthened and promoted. And it is a coincidence that 2023 is the year the two countries celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2008-2023). Looking back, we can see that the relationship between the two countries is developing in the right direction and the framework established by the two countries' senior leaders 15 years ago is very accurate. The Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership is the highest diplomatic framework between Vietnam and countries in the world. China is the first country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Vietnam is also the first Southeast Asian country with which China has established this framework. However, we must also recognize that there are still problems between the two countries, but these are long-term issues that cannot be resolved soon. Those issues have been mentioned and discussed seriously by senior leaders and the mechanisms to resolve them have also been resumed after the pandemic. In general, the relationship between the two countries over the past year has been favorable and has many bright spots. [caption id="attachment_582690" align="aligncenter" width="500"] 
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[/caption] It must be affirmed that meetings between the top leaders of the two countries are important, but each visit at a different time has a different importance and meaning. The visit of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping is a diplomatic response to the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last year. That visit was very successful with a 13-point Joint Statement , widely reported by the media, both countries and the world. The agreements reached between the two General Secretaries last year are being implemented very well. This time the senior leaders meet again, I think that the relationship between the two countries is good, and will be better. This is the third time General Secretary and President Xi Jinping has visited Vietnam. I would also like to add that since the normalization of relations, this is the first time a General Secretary and President of China has visited Vietnam three times . When high-level leaders meet and contact each other, they also direct relevant ministries, branches and agencies to successfully implement specific tasks. Therefore, I, like many Vietnamese people, hope that the visit will have good results, bringing benefits to the people of both countries. I believe that the two countries will be able to reach new agreements or implement existing agreements more specifically and make them more practical.
[/caption] It must be affirmed that meetings between the top leaders of the two countries are important, but each visit at a different time has a different importance and meaning. The visit of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping is a diplomatic response to the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last year. That visit was very successful with a 13-point Joint Statement , widely reported by the media, both countries and the world. The agreements reached between the two General Secretaries last year are being implemented very well. This time the senior leaders meet again, I think that the relationship between the two countries is good, and will be better. This is the third time General Secretary and President Xi Jinping has visited Vietnam. I would also like to add that since the normalization of relations, this is the first time a General Secretary and President of China has visited Vietnam three times . When high-level leaders meet and contact each other, they also direct relevant ministries, branches and agencies to successfully implement specific tasks. Therefore, I, like many Vietnamese people, hope that the visit will have good results, bringing benefits to the people of both countries. I believe that the two countries will be able to reach new agreements or implement existing agreements more specifically and make them more practical. 
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[/caption] I hope that the relationship between the two countries will be better in the future. There are still unresolved problems. If we clear them up this time, the relationship between the two countries will definitely be better. That is the hope of many people, both Vietnam and China, but we are not too optimistic when there are problems that cannot be resolved immediately. The two countries need to look straight at it and find specific solutions. The framework of diplomatic relations is at its highest level, and how it will develop in the future needs to be studied. I do not dare to confirm. But to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in my opinion, the two countries still have to do a lot more. For example, in the Joint Statement during the official visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (November 2022) and in the Joint Press Release during the official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to China (June 2023), both affirmed that "the two sides agreed to actively promote strategic connectivity for development between the two countries". Connecting development strategies is a trend in the world, especially when Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries with many similarities, so connecting is necessary. However, how to connect and how to connect is up to the ministries and branches of the two countries to research and propose. The development potential between Vietnam and China is still very large, and the two sides have not fully exploited it. In which, people-to-people and cultural exchanges are bright spots and strengths in the relationship between the two countries. As someone who has worked in people's diplomacy for many years, I think it is very good to promote this factor. Because enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries is the foundation and basis of the Vietnam-China friendship. If we talk about friendship but the people do not have exchanges and understanding, then that friendship is not real and may not be genuine. I am very happy that, despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, trade between the two countries has remained relatively good, especially after China opened up. Currently, China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN. 
Vice President of Vietnam-China Friendship Association Nguyen Vinh Quang.
The most encouraging thing is that the trade balance gap between Vietnam and China is gradually narrowing. In fact, many Vietnamese goods are increasingly popular with the Chinese, such as agricultural products, seafood, etc. There are even some types that the Chinese have only recently found attractive, such as durian. Therefore, the two countries still have a lot of room for cooperation. Vietnam is an agricultural country, with hard-working farmers producing many products, and China is a very large market. On the other hand, China is like "a world factory" that can provide Vietnam with many things we need.
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[/caption] People's diplomacy plays an important role in the foreign policy of our Party and State, especially in the context of global integration as it is today. Particularly in the Vietnam-China relationship, the two nations have had exchanges for thousands of years, and people's diplomacy between the two countries is to promote the tradition between the two nations, helping people to increase mutual understanding. The Vietnam-China Friendship Association is a people's organization, playing a leading role in people's foreign affairs activities with China. And this is one of the earliest established Friendship Associations. I have been Vice President of the Association for more than 10 years. The Friendship Associations of both sides have established a very special and effective exchange mechanism, which is the “Vietnam-China People’s Forum”, in which a number of Vietnamese people who are considered to have a deep understanding of China and a number of Chinese people who have a deep understanding of Vietnam meet annually to discuss issues that the people of the two countries are interested in, contributing to helping the Party and Government of each side make the right decisions in consolidating and developing the relationship between the two countries. In my opinion, the aspirations of the people of the two countries are the social foundation, and the friendly relationship is built on that foundation. One of the difficulties we are facing is the issues related to the social foundation. That is public opinion, what the Vietnamese think about China, what the Chinese think about Vietnam. This is an issue that not only diplomats can do but also requires the joint efforts of people’s organizations, in which the core is the Vietnam-China Friendship Association and other socio-political organizations. During the past term, the Vietnam - China Friendship Association has organized and implemented many activities with the participation of intellectuals, veterans, youth, businesses, etc., creating a social foundation for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Two weeks ago, the Congress set out the direction of the Association's activities for the 7th term of 2023-2028, in which it determined to continue to promote activities in aspects such as organization and development of the Association, and foreign affairs. Notably, it is necessary to study the possibility of establishing a Club of Vietnamese alumni studying abroad in China. 
[/caption] People's diplomacy plays an important role in the foreign policy of our Party and State, especially in the context of global integration as it is today. Particularly in the Vietnam-China relationship, the two nations have had exchanges for thousands of years, and people's diplomacy between the two countries is to promote the tradition between the two nations, helping people to increase mutual understanding. The Vietnam-China Friendship Association is a people's organization, playing a leading role in people's foreign affairs activities with China. And this is one of the earliest established Friendship Associations. I have been Vice President of the Association for more than 10 years. The Friendship Associations of both sides have established a very special and effective exchange mechanism, which is the “Vietnam-China People’s Forum”, in which a number of Vietnamese people who are considered to have a deep understanding of China and a number of Chinese people who have a deep understanding of Vietnam meet annually to discuss issues that the people of the two countries are interested in, contributing to helping the Party and Government of each side make the right decisions in consolidating and developing the relationship between the two countries. In my opinion, the aspirations of the people of the two countries are the social foundation, and the friendly relationship is built on that foundation. One of the difficulties we are facing is the issues related to the social foundation. That is public opinion, what the Vietnamese think about China, what the Chinese think about Vietnam. This is an issue that not only diplomats can do but also requires the joint efforts of people’s organizations, in which the core is the Vietnam-China Friendship Association and other socio-political organizations. During the past term, the Vietnam - China Friendship Association has organized and implemented many activities with the participation of intellectuals, veterans, youth, businesses, etc., creating a social foundation for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Two weeks ago, the Congress set out the direction of the Association's activities for the 7th term of 2023-2028, in which it determined to continue to promote activities in aspects such as organization and development of the Association, and foreign affairs. Notably, it is necessary to study the possibility of establishing a Club of Vietnamese alumni studying abroad in China. 
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping at the 16th Vietnam - China Youth Friendship Meeting (2015).
Having worked in China for nearly 10 years, I have many memories with the people of this country. I still remember when I visited a rural area in China, knowing that I was Vietnamese, they immediately called me "a person from the land of Ho Chi Minh". The image of President Ho Chi Minh in China is very profound, whenever President Ho Chi Minh is mentioned, the Chinese people admire and respect him. I know a Chinese man, in his office hangs a picture of President Ho Chi Minh with the calligraphy caption "There is no burden that can weigh down the shoulders of this man". I offered to borrow that picture to display in the exhibition of the 120th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth. That Chinese man felt very honored and was willing to lend it. Currently, it is estimated that in China there are about 70 relics bearing the mark of President Ho Chi Minh that are very well preserved and serve domestic and foreign tourists to visit.
Design: Minh Hoa - Nguyen Ngoc Documents: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Statistics Office
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