As close neighbours with contiguous mountains and rivers, Viet Nam and China share many cultural similarities and customs. History has recorded the solidarity, companionship, support, and mutual assistance of generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries, especially during Viet Nam’s arduous struggle for national liberation.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1950, the Viet Nam–China relationship has maintained a positive development momentum, reaping substantive achievements in various fields.
The two countries persist in the path of socialism; political trust has been enhanced through high-level visit exchanges and bilateral cooperation mechanisms from central to local levels, across Party, State, and people-to-people channels.
In 2023, the two countries declared the building of a Viet Nam–China Community with a Shared Future with strategic significance, opening a new chapter in relations between the two Parties and two countries. The traditional friendship of being “both comrades and brothers” between the two Parties, the nations and the peoples, has constantly provided strong impetus for bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic field.
China has been Viet Nam’s largest trading partner for many years, while Viet Nam is China’s leading trading partner in ASEAN.
In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached 205.2 billion USD. Viet Nam continues to be an attractive destination for major Chinese enterprises.
In 2024, China ranked first in the number of new investment projects in Viet Nam with 955 projects. Notably, the investment flow with high-technology and environmentally friendly components is increasing.
To strongly promote these achievements, the two countries are striving to promote cooperation in economy, trade, and investment; while also expanding collaboration in key promising fields such as science and technology, innovation, infrastructure, high technology, and green energy.
At present, Viet Nam and China are focusing on accelerating transport connectivity, especially cooperation in standard-gauge railway projects, thereby facilitating enterprises and people in strengthening economic, trade, and tourism cooperation. Geographical and cultural proximity has also contributed to fostering exchanges and mutual understanding between the peoples.
Through practical, diverse, and abundant activities such as the Viet Nam–China People’s Forum and the Viet Nam–China Youth Festival, people of both countries have more opportunities to learn about each other’s cultures, enhance mutual understanding, and further strengthen bonds.
The year 2025 has been designated as the Viet Nam–China Year of People-to-People Exchange, with many meaningful cultural and artistic activities to help cultivate and promote the traditional friendship, enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and build the Viet Nam–China Community with a Shared Future of strategic significance.
Leaders of the two countries have stressed that the foundation, lifeblood, and strength of bilateral relations lie in the people, and have encouraged youth to contribute to building the bilateral relations. Both Viet Nam and China now stand at a crucial time for the development and modernisation of the countries with new opportunities.
In this context, the stable and sustainable development of the good Viet Nam–China relationship is the shared aspiration that brings enormous benefits to both nations.
