Xi urges China, Vietnam to step up connectivity, new quality productive forces cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Vietnam to step up connectivity, jointly build frontier platform for new quality productive forces cooperation, and build stable and smooth cross-border industrial and supply chains.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his phone talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam.

Xi said he is glad to hold phone talks with To Lam at the turn of the year and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, recalling that during To Lam's state visit to China last August, the two leaders had in-depth exchanges and reached broad consensus on deepening relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as jointly promoting the development of socialist cause.

The year 2025 marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, and a key year for the preparation of 14th National Congress of the CPV, Xi said, noting it is a year of great significance for both countries that serves as both a point of continuity and a new starting point. The two sides should continue to rejuvenate and strengthen the two parties, deepen exchanges of socialist theory and practical experience, and promote the development of the socialist cause amid great changes unseen in a century, said Xi.

The two sides should carry out warm and down to earth people-to-people and cultural exchanges that connect people's hearts, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as media, culture and tourism, as well as between the youths of the two nations and at the sub-national level, creating more projects that win the hearts of the people, Xi said.

It is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by Comrade To Lam, the party, the state and the people of Vietnam will focus on ensuring the 14th National Congress a success, and firmly advance toward Vietnam's two centennial goals, Xi said

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China and Vietnam "are not only neighbors but also comrades" that share common interests in many fields, and the two economies are also very complementary. It is therefore important for top leaders and senior officials of the two countries to maintain deep and frequent exchanges. 

Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "China and Vietnam both celebrate Lunar New Year, so the phone call between top leaders of the two countries and the two parties ahead of the festival shows that the two countries share not only similar ideologies but also similar cultures. This makes the bilateral relations very unique for the both sides."

"The two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges in 2025, and we can expect more, broader and deeper cooperation and exchanges between the two countries this year. In the field of people-to-people exchanges, the tourism and cultural industries of the two nations will benefit, and this will surely be welcomed by the people of the two countries," Xu noted.  

Relations between the two ruling parties will guide the stable bilateral ties between the two countries that are able to withstand external impacts and overcome challenges, as the CPC and the CPV will continue to exchange experiences on governance and how to develop socialism and safeguard the socialist system in their countries, Li noted.