Vietnam leader's visit to China to boost cooperation

The visit of Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, to China from Sunday to Wednesday is expected to deepen China-Vietnam relations and boost regional economic recovery and cooperation.

The Vietnamese leader's visit will be his first foreign trip since being re-elected CPVCC general secretary in January 2021 and the first by a foreign leader to China after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. The visit is at the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China.

China and Vietnam have had frequent high-level exchanges despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and the two sides' regular communication and interactions have boosted bilateral cooperation at various levels and in different areas.

Trong's visit to China will provide an opportunity for an in-depth face-to-face meeting between the two countries' leaders, which will help the two sides to reach consensuses on many issues of bilateral and regional importance.

The successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress is a milestone in the history of the Party and the country, providing an apt opportunity for Trong to visit China. Trong congratulated Xi on his re-election as CPC Central Committee general secretary and lauded him for his "great contribution to Vietnam-China relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries".

In his message, Trong said that he looks forward to meeting with Xi again to exchange views on major strategic issues, further advance political mutual trust and chart the course for future Sino-Vietnamese relations.

As for the meeting between Xi and Trong, deepening cooperation, promoting common development and addressing other major strategic issues are expected to be high on its agenda.

As socialist countries, China and Vietnam have supported each other over the years, built a "comradely and brotherly" friendship — and adhered to a people-centered development philosophy.

And it is this development philosophy that seems to have prompted China and Vietnam to further strengthen strategic cooperation despite the complex and fast-changing international situation, and oppose hegemony, power politics and Cold War mentality.

As a matter of fact, cooperation between the two countries benefits their people and the two socialist parties, and plays an important role in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, fostering a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

As neighbors, China and Vietnam have strong trade ties and established cooperation in many fields including industrial technology. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a key source of imports, including raw materials and machinery for its crucial manufacturing sector. The two countries' annual trade hit $230.2 billion in 2021, up 19.7 percent year-on-year. And in the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade reached $132.38 billion, according to Vietnam Customs.

The economic downturn caused by global headwinds including the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and other global uncertainties has had a huge impact on the Asia-Pacific region. Despite that, China and Vietnam will continue to collaborate with and complement each other to boost economic development, secure the industry and supply chains, and benefit the two countries' people, because China and Vietnam enjoy a special bond.

More important, China has always attached great importance to Sino-Vietnamese ties and is willing to work with Vietnam to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights in the new era.

Let's hope Trong's visit is a complete success.

The author is an associate professor at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.