People-to-People Ties Strengthen Vietnam-China Relations

	Vietnamese Party Chief to Be First Foreign Leader to Visit China after CPC Congress
	VUFO President Received Delegation of the Chinese Association for Friendship (CPAFFC)

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping and his spouse, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam and his spouse will pay a State visit to the People's Republic of China from August 18 to 20, 2024.

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

In an interview with the World and Vietnam Report, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai stated that this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam presents an opportunity for the high-level leaders of the two Parties and two countries to further engage in strategic discussions, identify major directions, and adopt significant measures to promote the stable, substantive, and effective development of the bilateral relationship in the coming period.

Regarding local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, Ambassador Pham Sao Mai emphasized that the cooperation between localities and the people of the two countries has been vibrant, with numerous positive outcomes. In particular, regular exchange mechanisms, including the Spring Meetings between the Secretaries of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, and Guangxi provinces; the Conferences between the Secretaries of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Dien Bien provinces with Yunnan province; and the Economic Corridor Cooperation Conference of Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh provinces with Yunnan province have been effective organized.

Leaders of the localities have expanded exchanges, thereby contributing to strengthening the friendship and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between localities for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

In addition, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been enhanced. Regular exchange initiatives, including the Vietnam-China People's Forum and youth friendship exchanges, have been organized more effectively and substantively, thereby increasing mutual understanding, strengthening friendship among the younger generation, and solidifying the social foundation of bilateral relations.

Cultural, educational, and tourism cooperation has yielded numerous results. More than 23,000 Vietnamese students are currently living and studying in China. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam has been steadily increasing, with approximately 2.1 million people recorded in the first seven months of 2024.

Ambassador Pham Sao Mai expresses his confidence that with the stable and positive development of relations between the two Parties and two countries, local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges will continue to be a highlight in bilateral relations, becoming one of the driving forces for the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of the two countries.

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

In an interview with the press, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung stated that during the visit, there will be discussions on issues of interest to Vietnam and the enhancement of Vietnam-China cooperation. These discussions aim to consolidate the favorable external environment and position and to take advantage of external resources to successfully achieve the socio-economic development goals and implement the external relations and international integration policies set forth by the 13th Party Congress.

It is expected that General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will engage in high-level strategic discussions between the two Parties and countries; and assess the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, particularly the results achieved in implementing the high-level agreements reached by the high-ranking leaders of both countries. This includes 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 Xi Jinping to Vietnam in 2023.

Within the framework of the visit, senior leaders of Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities will discuss cooperation mechanisms for the upcoming period. In addition, there will be discussions on measures and content to implement the 2023 Joint Statement set out “six major orientations,” comprising stronger political trust, more substantial cooperation in defense–security, deeper and more practical cooperation, more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better management and settlement of differences.

Through the visit, in addition to meetings with high-ranking Chinese leaders, there will be significant activities involving representatives of the Chinese people.

Strengthening friendly exchanges for Vietnam-China relationship (VNF) - The sixth congress of the Vietnam – China Friendship Association for the 2017-2022 tenure was held on August 03 in Hanoi.

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