This is General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s first visit abroad since the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China, taking place in the context of Vietnam – China relationship, which is continuing to witness positive development.
The Party, State and people of China have successfully conducted the 19th CPC National Congress, which has an important significance for the whole Chinese Party and people. The event aimed to devise historical position and development orientations for the country in the new period. The Congress emphasised that Xi Jinping’s Thought on ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’ is the ‘magnetic needle’ for the Chinese Party and the people during the cause of building socialism with Chinese Characteristics, affirming China persistently pursues the path of peaceful development and promoting the building of community of common destiny. The Congress also noted that China would make efforts to achieve the goal of modernising socialism by 2035 and completing the construction of a rich, powerful, democratic, and civilised socialist power by the mid-21st century.
The Party, State and people of Vietnam believe firmly that under the leadership of the CPC, in which comrade Xi Jinping is the nucleus, the Part, State and people of China will successfully achieve the goals set by the Congress, continuing to gain greater achievements during the cause of building and developing 'socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’.
Chinese people have recorded tremendous achievements over the past 40 years, enhancing the socio-economic development in quality as well as increasing national synergy and affirming its increasingly important position and role in the international arena. The country’s political and social situation is also stable. In economic terms, China has become the second largest economy in the world. In 2016, China’s GDP reached around US$11.2 trillion, an increase of 6.7%, of which services accounted for 51.6%; meanwhile per capita income has been rising 6.3%, and the foreign direct investment (FDI) was over US$130 billion last year. The country has recorded advanced and rapid development in science-technology and infrastructure. Its culture and education sectors have been strongly invested in and these benefits have been reaped with many outstanding achievements. Regarding foreign affairs, China has continued to affirm the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and peaceful development. The country has implemented an ‘all-out’ diplomatic policy with the focus of building a country diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics and enhancing new neighbouring diplomacy through many regional connectivity initiatives; prioritised relations with ASEAN; and reinforced multilateral diplomacy.
The relationship between Vietnam and China continues as a positive development. The two countries have regularly maintained bilateral high-level meetings and contacts to enhance political trust between the two sides. The high-ranking leaders from the two countries have reached important common perceptions on continuing to boost the stable and healthy development of Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two sides have conducted dozens of cooperative mechanisms at all levels and in all areas. China is currently the largest trading partner and tourism market of Vietnam as well as the eighth largest investor among 122 countries and territories directly investing in Vietnam. Vietnam is also the largest trading and tourism partner of China in ASEAN. In terms of trade, since 2004, China has always been the number one trading partner as well as the largest import market and second largest export market of Vietnam. Vietnam – China bilateral trade increased from US$32 million in 1991 to US$70.5 billion in 2016.
Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam has significant meaning to Vietnam – China relations and Vietnam’s foreign relations in general. On the occasion, the top leader of the Party and State of China attended the 2017 APEC Leaders’ Week, including the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang city, Vietnam. His attendance aimed to promote the momentum of cooperation and cohesion between China and other countries in APEC in general and support to successfully organise the APEC Year-2017 in particular, contributing to increasing the role and position of Vietnam in the international arena.
Receiving Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Vietnam affirmed the line of foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multiateralisation, diversification. The country will attach importance to the development of stable and long-term relations with China on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit; as well as promote the positive trend, maintain the exchange of high-level delegations and strengthen relations between the two Parties and States. Vietnam is willing to enhance the increase of the efficiency of the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment as well as protect its legitimate interests in Bien Dong Sea on the basis of international law, consolidate high-level common sense of good control of conflicts and maintain the peace and stability in the Bien Dong Sea, for the peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
May General Secretary and Preident Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam be successful, helping to enhance the real efficiency of the cooperation between the two countries in all fields as well as promote Vietnam – China traditional friendly relations and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new height, for the interests of the two peoples and for the peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
