Vietnam-China relationship at deepest, most comprehensive and substantive level ever

[Beijingwalker]

Vietnam-China relationship at deepest, most comprehensive and substantive level ever​

16/08/2024 08:11 (GMT+07:00)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and his spouse will pay a state visit to China from August 18 – 20.​

The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son granted an interview to the press ahead of the state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse.

Minister Bui Thanh Son: The state visit to China is the first foreign trip by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in his new position, and a particularly important diplomatic activity between Vietnam and China this year which has a major impact on the development trend of the relations between the two Parties and the two countries in the subsequent long term.

That Party General Secretary and State President To Lam accepts the invitation from Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to make his state visit to China first after shouldering his new position manifests the importance and priority of the top level of both sides in consolidating and advancing their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. Both sides are very eagerly looking forward to the visit and expect to achieve outcomes in several areas as follows:

Firstly, based on the relationship nurtured by leaders of both countries, including late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders, continuing and further enhancing the fine and favourable development trend of the Vietnam-China relations achieved through the historical mutual visits of the top leaders of both Parties and countries in the recent past; maintaining high-level strategic exchanges, consolidating the foundation of political trust, and promoting the orientation for the development of the bilateral relations in the new phase.

Secondly, reaching consensus on major orientations and measures for effectively building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future holding strategic significance in the direction of the “six major goals” agreed upon by both sides; with a focus on realising high-level common perceptions and signed agreements; making substantive cooperation achieve new progress, particularly in the areas of mutual interest such as railway connection, agricultural trade, high-quality investment, financial and monetary affairs, culture and tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Thirdly, through discussions in a frank, sincere, and substantive spirit on border and territorial issues, together appropriately addressing existing issues, better managing and solving differences on the sea, and keeping issues on the sea from affecting momentum of healthy development of relations between the two Parties and countries, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

I am confident that, with the special attention and close coordination from both sides, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse's state visit to China will arrive at a great success, becoming a new milestone and opening up a new period in the development of the friendly neighbourliness, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and the Vietnam-China community with a shared future which carries strategic significance.

Minister Bui Thanh Son: The Vietnam - China relations have witnessed rapid progress and been increasingly profound and comprehensive across all domains since their normalisation more than 30 years ago, especially more than 15 years after the establishment of the framework of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008.

Particularly, following the historical official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and the third state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023, the two countries agreed to continue further deepening and elevating their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, as well as building a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in accordance with the “six major goals”, opening up a new chapter for the bilateral relations.

So far this year, the bilateral relations have maintained robust growth momentum, with the cooperation spirit having spread strongly to all levels, sectors, and people from all walks of life. Both sides assess that bilateral relationship has been at the deepest, most comprehensive and substantive level ever. The outcomes of their cooperation could be seen through three perspectives as follows:

Firstly, exchanges and contacts at the high level, and from central to local levels have been regularly maintained with various flexible forms, contributing to strengthening political trust and creating a new impulse for all levels and sectors of both sides. So far this year, Vietnam has sent two delegations of key leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the National Assembly, to visit China and have working sessions there. Besides, several members of the Politburo, Secretaries of the Party Central Committee, and leaders of ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam have visited China. The two sides have also opened up new cooperation areas and established more annual high-level exchange mechanisms between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Chinese National People’s Congress.

Recently, the Chinese Party and State manifested their special sentiments and respects at the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Communist Party of China Central Committee sent its message of condolences early; Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping came to the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to pay respect; and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning was sent to the funeral as the Special Representative.

Secondly, the bilateral economic-trade-investment cooperation continues growing. We have been impressed by the figures such as two-way trade in the first half rising 24.1% year-on-year to US$94.5 billion; the number of FDI project in the six-month span remaining at the top with 447 new ones worth nearly US$1.3 billion; and positive tourism recovery (Vietnam hosted 2.1 million Chinese tourist arrivals during January-July, higher than that of the whole 2023). Advancements have been seen in the bilateral agricultural cooperation, with the basic completion of procedures for the export through the official channel of several Vietnamese farm produce to China such as frozen durian, fresh coconut, chili, and passion fruit. People-to-people exchanges have been enhanced, the number of the Vietnamese students in China rising to more than 23,000, doubling the figure recorded before the COVID-19 broke out.

Thirdly, the land border situation has been generally stable; the East Sea situation basically well controlled; and exchange and negotiation mechanisms between the two sides on the sea issues regularly maintained. The two sides are heading towards the holding of the activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border.

 

[ety]

I think Vietnam is playing double faced game with China, or what Vietnam calls a "bamboo" strategy, it bends to the wind blowing at the top. He maybe visiting China for his first foreign visit but Vietnam is getting in bed with the Filipin and US at the same time as they are having navy exercise together in SCS. Otherwise, Vietnamese population wouldn't have the general animosity as fostered by the authorities towards China.

 

[AViet]

I think Vietnam is playing double faced game with China, or what Vietnam calls a "bamboo" strategy, it bends to the wind blowing at the top. He maybe visiting China for his first foreign visit but Vietnam is getting in bed with the Filipin and US at the same time as they are having navy exercise together in SCS. Otherwise, Vietnamese population wouldn't have the general animosity as fostered by the authorities towards China.

We need to balance the relationship with all big powers. Relatively small countries like Vietnam must do that (if they can. Obviously not everyone is capable for exercising bamboo diplomacy) for its own existance and development, unless China is strong enough to exert Pax Sinica worldwide. Even much stronger countries like Germany and France now have to play the same bamboo game as well, let alone Vietnam.

However, the levels of relationship differ. Reception of President Biden in Vietnam was far different to the reception of President Xi in Vietnam last year.

 

[100%_Guest]

Vietnam-China relationship at deepest, most comprehensive and substantive level ever​

16/08/2024 08:11 (GMT+07:00)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and his spouse will pay a state visit to China from August 18 – 20.​

The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son granted an interview to the press ahead of the state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse.

Minister Bui Thanh Son: The state visit to China is the first foreign trip by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in his new position, and a particularly important diplomatic activity between Vietnam and China this year which has a major impact on the development trend of the relations between the two Parties and the two countries in the subsequent long term.

That Party General Secretary and State President To Lam accepts the invitation from Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to make his state visit to China first after shouldering his new position manifests the importance and priority of the top level of both sides in consolidating and advancing their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. Both sides are very eagerly looking forward to the visit and expect to achieve outcomes in several areas as follows:

Firstly, based on the relationship nurtured by leaders of both countries, including late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders, continuing and further enhancing the fine and favourable development trend of the Vietnam-China relations achieved through the historical mutual visits of the top leaders of both Parties and countries in the recent past; maintaining high-level strategic exchanges, consolidating the foundation of political trust, and promoting the orientation for the development of the bilateral relations in the new phase.

Secondly, reaching consensus on major orientations and measures for effectively building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future holding strategic significance in the direction of the “six major goals” agreed upon by both sides; with a focus on realising high-level common perceptions and signed agreements; making substantive cooperation achieve new progress, particularly in the areas of mutual interest such as railway connection, agricultural trade, high-quality investment, financial and monetary affairs, culture and tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Thirdly, through discussions in a frank, sincere, and substantive spirit on border and territorial issues, together appropriately addressing existing issues, better managing and solving differences on the sea, and keeping issues on the sea from affecting momentum of healthy development of relations between the two Parties and countries, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

I am confident that, with the special attention and close coordination from both sides, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse's state visit to China will arrive at a great success, becoming a new milestone and opening up a new period in the development of the friendly neighbourliness, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and the Vietnam-China community with a shared future which carries strategic significance.

Minister Bui Thanh Son: The Vietnam - China relations have witnessed rapid progress and been increasingly profound and comprehensive across all domains since their normalisation more than 30 years ago, especially more than 15 years after the establishment of the framework of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008.

Particularly, following the historical official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and the third state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023, the two countries agreed to continue further deepening and elevating their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, as well as building a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in accordance with the “six major goals”, opening up a new chapter for the bilateral relations.

So far this year, the bilateral relations have maintained robust growth momentum, with the cooperation spirit having spread strongly to all levels, sectors, and people from all walks of life. Both sides assess that bilateral relationship has been at the deepest, most comprehensive and substantive level ever. The outcomes of their cooperation could be seen through three perspectives as follows:

Firstly, exchanges and contacts at the high level, and from central to local levels have been regularly maintained with various flexible forms, contributing to strengthening political trust and creating a new impulse for all levels and sectors of both sides. So far this year, Vietnam has sent two delegations of key leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the National Assembly, to visit China and have working sessions there. Besides, several members of the Politburo, Secretaries of the Party Central Committee, and leaders of ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam have visited China. The two sides have also opened up new cooperation areas and established more annual high-level exchange mechanisms between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Chinese National People’s Congress.

Recently, the Chinese Party and State manifested their special sentiments and respects at the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Communist Party of China Central Committee sent its message of condolences early; Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping came to the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to pay respect; and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning was sent to the funeral as the Special Representative.

Secondly, the bilateral economic-trade-investment cooperation continues growing. We have been impressed by the figures such as two-way trade in the first half rising 24.1% year-on-year to US$94.5 billion; the number of FDI project in the six-month span remaining at the top with 447 new ones worth nearly US$1.3 billion; and positive tourism recovery (Vietnam hosted 2.1 million Chinese tourist arrivals during January-July, higher than that of the whole 2023). Advancements have been seen in the bilateral agricultural cooperation, with the basic completion of procedures for the export through the official channel of several Vietnamese farm produce to China such as frozen durian, fresh coconut, chili, and passion fruit. People-to-people exchanges have been enhanced, the number of the Vietnamese students in China rising to more than 23,000, doubling the figure recorded before the COVID-19 broke out.

Thirdly, the land border situation has been generally stable; the East Sea situation basically well controlled; and exchange and negotiation mechanisms between the two sides on the sea issues regularly maintained. The two sides are heading towards the holding of the activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border.

Ger-Viet dont think so>>>>

 

[ety]

We need to balance the relationship with all big powers. Relatively small countries like Vietnam must do that (if they can. Obviously not everyone is capable for exercising bamboo diplomacy) for its own existance and development, unless China is strong enough to exert Pax Sinica worldwide. Even much stronger countries like Germany and France now have to play the same bamboo game as well, let alone Vietnam.

However, the levels of relationship differ. Reception of President Biden in Vietnam was far different to the reception of President Xi in Vietnam last year.

Maybe Vietnam is not a real friend to China then.

 

[Yommie]

Vietnam knows it's beneficial to cultivate a good relation with a neighbor.

 

[Viet]

I think Vietnam is playing double faced game with China, or what Vietnam calls a "bamboo" strategy, it bends to the wind blowing at the top. He maybe visiting China for his first foreign visit but Vietnam is getting in bed with the Filipin and US at the same time as they are having navy exercise together in SCS. Otherwise, Vietnamese population wouldn't have the general animosity as fostered by the authorities towards China.

You don’t understand. The politics of Vietnam towards China has never changed since dinosaurs. There are some exceptions in war times though. In respect to the Philippines there is a term called “window dressing”. It has much to do with the US pressure on Vietnam.

The term “bamboo” came from the late communist chief I believe. It says in peacetime Vietnam (1) will self impose a 3-no-policy, (2) within this framework Vietnam will do some gym flexibility.

 

[MH.Yang]

Maybe Vietnam is not a real friend to China then.

We're not stupid enough to trust the Vietnamese. That's why we helped Cambodia build the canal.

If the Vietnamese govt shows malice toward us, we will use the canal to exclude Vietnam from the Mekong economic system.

 

[100%_Guest]

Maybe Vietnam is not a real friend to China then.

Never was, 2 heads snake...vietnam war pay back dening all the assistance given.

 

[Viet]

We're not stupid enough to trust the Vietnamese. That's why we helped Cambodia build the canal.

If the Vietnamese govt shows malice toward us, we will use the canal to exclude Vietnam from the Mekong economic system.

That’s not funny. if we don’t do that, but we do this, you will do that. you help Cambodia to build the canal to bypass Vietnam. that sounds to me a blackmail.

 

[MH.Yang]

That’s not funny. if we don’t do that, but we do this, you will do that. you help Cambodia to build the canal to bypass Vietnam. that sounds to me a blackmail.

That's the price the Vietnamese government has paid for repeatedly using Ho Chi Minh City's position as an outlet to the Mekong River for political blackmail against China. Now Ho Chi Minh City is no longer the best and closest access to the Mekong River.

We'll be helping Thailand build the Kra Canal next. The youngest daughter of Thailand's most pro-Chinese Thaksin family has become the new Thai prime minister.

And Burma's Kokang Allied Army, the United Wa State Army, the Kachin Independence Army, and the Shan State Army have captured Burma's third-largest city, Ranjung, eliminating Burma's northeastern theater of operations and capturing the theater commander, Hso Tin. They will soon capture Mandalay, the second largest city, and then move south to join with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) to capture all the sea outlets east of Rangoon and link up with the Kra Canal.

We've had enough of the greed and incompetence of the Burmese junta and the bamboo diplomacy of the Vietnamese government.

The Strait of Malacca is about to become a joke. The Salween and Mekong river basins will become the core economic regions of Southeast Asia.

MNDAA will help the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi to overthrow the Burmese junta and return to power. The new Burmese government will take control of the south and west of the country and will cooperate with China and the Security Council in mediating an end to the persecution of the Rohingya. The MNDAA will control the autonomous states in the north and west of Burma. Together, they will restore peace and order in Burma.
And Vietnam's southern faction led by Ho Chi Minh City, a white-eyed wolf hostile to China while reaping benefits from China through the Mekong River outlet, will get what they deserve. With the use of the Cambodian Canal and the Kra Canal, Vietnam's economic core will shift to the north.

 

[Yellow is Okay]

We're not stupid enough to trust the Vietnamese. That's why we helped Cambodia build the canal.

If the Vietnamese govt shows malice toward us, we will use the canal to exclude Vietnam from the Mekong economic system.

Vietnam currently has around 10.6 million hectares of agricultural land, with approximately 6.9 million hectares being arable. In comparison, Thailand has 21.9 million hectares of agricultural land and 15.2 million hectares of arable land. In 2022, the total agricultural exports for Vietnam and Thailand were approximately 53.2 billion USD and 47.3 billion USD, respectively. From the way I see it, Vietnam has long relied heavily on agriculture, investing significant resources in this sector. If China can help reduce Vietnam's dependence on agriculture as a primary means of economic development, I would be deeply grateful.

 

[Yellow is Okay]

Regarding Cambodia's new canal, it will primarily increase its ability to trade goods more actively. This project has nothing to do with Vietnam. In fact, we even offer free port access to Laos, yet some still believe that we're trying to control Cambodia, which isn't the case. Vietnam's interest in the Funan Techo canal is solely related to agricultural matters. For manufacturing, we rely more on Guangxi and Guangdong, so the Mekong isn't crucial for us. Besides, we have our own ports, including deep-water ones, to handle our trade needs.

Describing it as 'help' is a stretch, it's purely business between two countries. But even if it were help, I think it's quite reasonable, considering the potential backlash Vietnam might face from the US for re-exporting Chinese products.

$5 billion worth of Chinese aluminum remains stranded here in southern Vietnam after an anti-dumping investigation.

The $5 billion hoard of metal the world wants but can’t have

In the esoteric world of aluminum, those in the know say the stockpile in Vietnam is the biggest they have ever seen — and that’s in an industry that spends a lot of time building stockpiles while analysts spend a lot of time trying to locate them. But as far as the increasingly under-supplied market is concerned, it’s one that may never be seen again.

 

[MH.Yang]

Vietnam currently has around 10.6 million hectares of agricultural land, with approximately 6.9 million hectares being arable. In comparison, Thailand has 21.9 million hectares of agricultural land and 15.2 million hectares of arable land. In 2022, the total agricultural exports for Vietnam and Thailand were approximately 53.2 billion USD and 47.3 billion USD, respectively. From the way I see it, Vietnam has long relied heavily on agriculture, investing significant resources in this sector. If China can help reduce Vietnam's dependence on agriculture as a primary means of economic development, I would be deeply grateful.

Vietnam is industrializing. Viet Nam is perhaps the most promising country in South-East Asia to become an industrial power.

China supplies Vietnam with 30% of the electricity consumed in Vietnam at the low price of 1600 VND. Is this not a great support to Vietnamese industry?

Moreover, China is moving labor-intensive enterprises to the Mekong River Basin, and the Vietnamese government should try to attract investment from such enterprises instead of resorting to administrative support from the Chinese government.

As for Vietnam's agriculture, why would you want to abandon it? There is just as much money to be made in agriculture and you should upgrade it, not abandon it.

 

[Yellow is Okay]

Vietnam is industrializing. Viet Nam is perhaps the most promising country in South-East Asia to become an industrial power.

China supplies Vietnam with 30% of the electricity consumed in Vietnam at the low price of 1600 VND. Is this not a great support to Vietnamese industry?

Moreover, China is moving labor-intensive enterprises to the Mekong River Basin, and the Vietnamese government should try to attract investment from such enterprises instead of resorting to administrative support from the Chinese government.

As for Vietnam's agriculture, why would you want to abandon it? There is just as much money to be made in agriculture and you should upgrade it, not abandon it.

Agricultural exports currently comprise 12 to 15% of Vietnam’s total exports. To put this into perspective, when South Korea and Japan were at a similar stage of development, their agricultural exports accounted for only around 6 to 7%. And when I mention shifting away from "agriculture", I'm not suggesting that we should eliminate it entirely. At present, Vietnam's agriculture industry is largely dependent on manual labor and rudimentary production methods. While increasing revenue is certainly desirable, it shouldn't come at the cost of wasting resources. As for the Chinese assistance, what I meant in my previous post was the indirect impact of constructing the canal.