China always upholds its policy of friendship with Vietnam and considers the Southeast Asian country a priority direction and strategic choice in its neighborhood diplomacy, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping affirmed in Beijing on Monday.

The top Chinese leader made these remarks during his talks with Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, who, along with his spouse and entourage, is on a three-day state visit starting on Sunday at the invitation of Xi and his wife.

Expressing deep condolences over the recent passing of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi expressed confidence that Vietnam's Party and state would continue to build on the late general secretary's legacy, achieving even greater success in the country’s Doi Moi (Renovation) policy and socialism building.

Lam’s first state visit to China, also his first overseas trip as the top leader of the Vietnamese Party and state, holds great significance as it reflects the great importance and top priority that both parties and countries give to the Vietnam-China relationship.

Strongly affirming China’s persistence with its policy of friendship with Vietnam, Party General Secretary and President Xi announced that China always regards Vietnam as a priority direction and strategic choice in its neighborhood diplomacy.

General Secretary and State President Lam told his host that Vietnam places great importance on and gives top priority to its friendly neighborly relationship, comprehensive strategic partnership, and community of a shared future with China, recognizing their strategic significance.

Lam expressed his desire to work alongside Xi and senior Chinese leaders to build on the long-standing traditional friendship between the two parties and countries, aiming to elevate bilateral ties to a new stage of increasingly stable, sustainable, and long-term development.

The Vietnamese leader also congratulated China on the significant achievements made by the Party, state, and people under Xi's leadership over the past years.

He then briefed his host on Vietnam’s current situation, emphasizing that the country will continue to embrace the spirit of 'self-reliance, self-confidence, self-strengthening, and national pride' to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and prepare for the successful organization of the next congress.

Listening to the sharing of the Vietnamese leader about the series of meaningful activities at his first stop in Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, Xi emphasized the glorious years of President Ho Chi Minh have created "a passionate love between Vietnam and China, both comrades and brothers."

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the positive development momentum in bilateral relations, particularly following the historic visits of the top leaders of both parties in 2022 and 2023.

They noted significant progress in six key areas: enhanced political trust, more practical defense and security cooperation, more substantive economic collaboration, a stronger social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better management and resolution of differences.

In the face of complex and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, Vietnam remains committed to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as the diversification and multilateralization of external relations, Lam assured his host.

He also reiterated Vietnam's adherence to its defense policy of the 'four no’s.'

The 'four no’s' policy includes: no participation in military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases in Vietnamese territory or allowing Vietnam to be used as leverage against other countries, and no use or threat of force in international relations.

The two leaders engaged in in-depth discussions on key strategies to strengthen trust, consolidate friendship, enhance the effectiveness of substantive cooperation across all fields, and maintain peace and stability at sea.

They underlined the importance of continuing to develop the Vietnam-China relationship in a healthy, stable, and sustainable manner.

These strategies must align with the motto of 'friendly neighborliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and looking toward the future,' as well as the 'four-good' spirit of 'good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners.'

Both the host and guest agreed that the two countries will continue strengthening security and defense cooperation, boosting economic, trade, and investment cooperation, including promoting the connectivity between the ‘two corridors, one belt’ and ‘belt and road’ initiatives, enhancing the connection of railway and road infrastructure, beefing up economic and supply chain cooperation among border provinces, and elevating exchanges on state-owned enterprise reform.

Lam proposed that both countries enhance cooperation in constructing large, symbolic projects that reflect their political trust and showcase China's advanced scientific and technological capabilities.

He also suggested that China provide Vietnam with preferential loans, technology transfer, and human resource training, as well as invest in key transport infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

He urged stronger investment cooperation in areas where China excels, such as the green economy and digital economy.

In response, Xi affirmed China's commitment to increasing imports of Vietnamese farm produce, facilitating the entry of Vietnam’s high-quality agricultural products into the Chinese market, and supporting the expansion of Vietnamese trade promotion offices in China.

Looking ahead to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the two leaders agreed to designate 2025 as the 'Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange.'

They also discussed a range of international and regional issues of mutual concern, stressing the importance of coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international mechanisms, with a view to safeguarding the legitimate interests of both countries and contribute to the broader interests of the international community.

In their sincere and frank exchanges on maritime issues, they agreed to effectively implement the high-level common perceptions already reached and to work diligently to better control and resolve their differences.

Lam stated that both sides should maintain mutual respect for each other's legitimate interests and resolve differences through peaceful means, in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He called for the serious and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea and advocated for the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct for the waterway, in line with international law and UNCLOS.

The Vietnamese leader extended a respectful invitation to his Chinese counterpart to visit Vietnam again soon, which the Chinese leader happily accepted.

At the conclusion of their talks, both leaders witnessed the signing of 14 bilateral cooperation agreements across the board, including trade, industry, banking, radio and television, press and communications, healthcare, infrastructure, and more.

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