General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation paid a State visit to China from April 14 to 17, 2026, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping and his spouse.

With a series of intensive, substantive, and effective activities, the visit created strong momentum for both sides to continue strengthening ties between the two Parties and the two countries in the current context, bringing Viet Nam and China friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and strategically significant community with a shared future into a new phase of development that is increasingly stable and sustainable.

_{ELEVATING VIET NAM – CHINA RELATIONS FOR PEACE, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT}

The talks between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping were widely covered by the media of both countries.

At the talks, congratulating the epoch-making achievements of China’s Party, State, and people, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed confidence that China would successfully implement its 15th Five-Year Plan, achieve high-quality development and Chinese-style modernisation, fulfil the “second centenary goal”, and continue to play an increasingly important role in the region and the world.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam affirmed that Viet Nam consistently regards the development of relations with China as a consistent policy, a strategic choice and a top priority in its overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation; supports China’s global initiatives on development, security, civilisation, and governance; and steadfastly pursues the “one China" policy.

Once again congratulating the great success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping highly appreciated and congratulated Viet Nam’s remarkable achievements in socialist construction and renewal, opening a new era of development for the Vietnamese nation; emphasised that China supports Viet Nam in upholding the Party’s leadership and advancing the cause of socialist construction; and affirmed that Viet Nam is a priority direction in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy.

In a cordial, friendly, and frank atmosphere, the top leaders of the two Parties and countries held in-depth and comprehensive discussions on each country’s situation, bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in relations between the two Parties and countries in recent times, notably the close high-level strategic exchanges; increasingly comprehensive, diverse, and trustworthy cooperation mechanisms; defence and security cooperation shifting from exchanges to more substantive collaboration; breakthroughs in economic, trade, investment, and transport connectivity cooperation; vibrant local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges; and closer multilateral coordination.

The two leaders affirmed that in the complex international context, the two Parties and countries need to strengthen solidarity, enhance strategic trust, and promote connectivity in policies, trade, infrastructure, and energy, while further deepening and elevating Viet Nam–China relations in the new phase, making practical contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Regarding the future direction of relations between the two Parties and countries, the two leaders affirmed that they will continue to direct all levels and sectors to adhere to the overall goal of “six more”, maintain regular high-level exchanges, bring into full play the important orientation role of Party channels, strengthen substantive cooperation across fields, consolidate the social foundation for bilateral relations, coordinate closely in multilateral mechanisms, and better manage and resolve differences.

At the talks, the two leaders officially announced the launch of the “Viet Nam–China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026–2027”, agreeing to step up cooperation, promote tourism promotion activities, upgrade tourism infrastructure and services, and consolidate and maintain their positions as each other’s largest source of tourists.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam proposed that both sides strengthen political trust and strategic coordination at a new level, promote high-level contacts, continue to enhance the role and improve the effectiveness of comprehensive cooperation through Party, Government, National Assembly/National People’s Congress, Fatherland Front/CPPCC channels, strengthen theoretical exchanges and cadre training; strengthen substantive cooperation between key and regular agencies such as Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Public Security; effectively implement the 3+3 Strategic Dialogue mechanism at the ministerial level; strengthen cooperation in security, defense industry, and military trade; and support each other in successfully organising APEC Years 2026 and 2027 in each country.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also proposed that the two sides establish a new level for economic, trade, investment, and tourism cooperation, realizing the development goals of each country, focusing resources on upgrading strategic infrastructure connectivity, giving the highest priority to railway cooperation; shifting strongly from purely commercial trade to substantive economic linkages, linking bilateral trade with infrastructure connectivity, logistics connectivity, and market connectivity; requesting China to open its doors to Vietnamese goods to the maximum extent, striving to promote balanced and healthy trade; boosting investment, technology transfer, developing supporting industries, and forming complete supply chains and production chains in Viet Nam; and coordinating the construction of a cooperation mechanism to ensure the supply of strategic energy.

Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping proposed effectively implementing cooperation in connectivity between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors, One Belt framework; Accelerating strategic infrastructure connectivity and actively promoting the implementation of three standard-gauge railway projects connecting the two countries. General Secretary and President Xi Jinping welcomed the export of many high-quality Vietnamese goods to the Chinese market; he suggested that both sides deepen cooperation in key industries, strengthen cooperation in production and supply chains, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Viet Nam.

The high-level leaders of both sides agreed to continue to resolve disagreements appropriately and promote cooperation in line with the new level of Viet Nam-China relations on the basis of international law. Strictly adhering to the consensus between ASEAN and China on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea/East Sea (DOC) and promoting the early achievement of a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea/East Sea (COC) consistent with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that both sides genuinely respect each other’s legitimate rights and interests; resolve disagreements peacefully and in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982.

Following the talks, the two General Secretaries and Presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements in various fields including Party-to-Party cooperation, public security, justice, economy, science and technology, production chains, supply chains, people’s livelihoods, media, and local affairs, demonstrating the comprehensive achievements of both sides during the visit.

The two sides issued a Joint Statement between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the People’s Republic of China on further deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and advancing the building of a Viet Nam–China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance at a higher level in the new era.

The Joint Statement emphasised that Viet Nam and China share the same aspirations and path, share a common future, and that the good development of Viet Nam-China relations has strategic, overall, and historical significance, and is a common strategic choice of both countries. China emphasised its commitment to a policy of friendship with Viet Nam, always considering Viet Nam a priority in its neighbourly foreign policy. Viet Nam reaffirmed that it always considers relations with China an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its independent, self-reliant, self-strengthening, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy.

Both sides agreed that, in order to develop Viet Nam-China relations well, the strategic direction of the top leaders of the two Parties is key, exchanges and cooperation in various fields are the driving force, and the friendship between the peoples of the two countries is the foundation.

PROMOTING SUBTLE AND EFFECTIVE BILATERAL COOPERATION

During his State visit to China, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

In a friendly, open, and trusting atmosphere, the two leaders agreed that the two Parties and two countries share broad common interests, their economies are highly complementary, and the potential and room for cooperation between the two countries are still very large; both sides will strengthen solidarity, promote comprehensive cooperation, support and assist each other, and work together to further promote political and economic trust, effectively build a strategically significant Community of Shared Future, and bring bilateral relations to a new stage of development according to the “six more” orientation.

General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that both sides strive to establish a new level of cooperation in economics, trade, investment, and tourism; strengthen trade cooperation in a more balanced and sustainable manner; promote sustainable economic linkages, create breakthroughs in connecting strategic infrastructure, give the highest priority to railway cooperation, and boost connectivity with Central Asian and European countries; he requested China to provide loans, train human resources, and transfer technology so that Viet Nam can master the operation, maintenance, and repair of electrified railway systems; and replicate the smart border gate model.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has called on China to support and create favourable conditions for Viet Nam to participate effectively in the “Sharing the Vast Market – China Exports” initiative; open its market to Vietnamese agricultural, aquatic, and livestock products that meet standards; and increase both the capacity and volume of electricity imports from China.

Expressing agreement with and high regard for the key orientations put forward by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, Premier Li Qiang stressed that China attaches importance to practical, mutually beneficial cooperation with Viet Nam. He proposed that the two sides prioritise cooperation in strategic infrastructure connectivity, particularly in technology, human resource training, and capital mobilisation in the railway sector; effectively implement standard-gauge railway projects linking the two countries; and promote multimodal logistics connectivity.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also held talks with Zhao Leji, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.

Emphasising the importance of institution-building and legislative work, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam proposed that friendly exchanges and cooperation between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and China’s National People’s Congress be further deepened, while also continuing to effectively implement the cooperation committee mechanism between the two legislatures; increasing exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly among local people’s congresses in border provinces; and strengthening cooperation among specialised committees, friendship parliamentary groups, women parliamentarians, and young legislators. He also called for mutual support at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed his hope that the legislative bodies of both countries would further promote their roles in law-making and oversight, thereby contributing to expanding and enhancing the effectiveness of practical cooperation, particularly in diplomacy, defence, security, trade, investment, and tourism. He highlighted the need to promote more balanced trade and shift from conventional exchanges to deeper economic linkages, including supply chains and production chains, alongside enhanced transport infrastructure connectivity.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam suggested that the National Assembly of Viet Nam and National People’s Congress of China further uphold their roles as representative bodies of the people, helping to strengthen mutual understanding through public communication, while jointly promoting better management and resolution of maritime differences in accordance with international law, thereby contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for development and preserving the friendship between the two countries.

Chairman Zhao Leji affirmed that National People’s Congress of China stands ready to further strengthen friendly exchanges and substantive cooperation with the National Assembly of Viet Nam. He extended an invitation to NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man to visit China at an early date to co-chair the second session of the cooperation committee between the two legislatures, with a view to sharing experience in legislation and oversight and advancing the alignment of development strategies.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also met with Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed his wish for both sides to promote three pillars of connectivity: shared ideals and beliefs, development interests, and cultural and people-to-people ties. He suggested maintaining regular high-level exchanges, strengthening political trust, and enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation across party, state, government, parliamentary, and consultative channels, while consolidating defence and security cooperation. He also proposed that, alongside strengthening traditional areas of cooperation, both sides should strive to create new highlights in emerging fields so that people can directly benefit from the tangible outcomes of bilateral cooperation.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam further called for greater roles of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee in encouraging localities and mass organisations in both countries to improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, expand exchanges and communication, and promote public awareness of Viet Nam–China relations as well as each country’s reform and opening-up achievements. He stressed the need for joint efforts to better manage and properly handle maritime differences, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.

Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning proposed that both sides firmly grasp the direction of bilateral relations and jointly advance socialist modernisation in each country. He called for stronger strategic connectivity, with priority given to accelerating infrastructure links, developing artificial intelligence and the digital economy. China, he noted, stands ready to expand imports—particularly high-quality agricultural products from Viet Nam—and encourages enterprises to broaden investment and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation in Viet Nam.

Following the conclusion of activities in Beijing, on the morning of April 16, General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation departed the capital for a working visit to Nanning by high-speed train. Expressing his impression of China’s high-speed rail network development, Vietnamese top leader To Lam expressed his hope that the two countries would continue enhancing transport connectivity, including railways, in support of green development and national growth. He also suggested that Chinese railway authorities and enterprises share experience, provide support, and participate in Viet Nam’s key railway projects, including technology transfer.

In Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, General Secretary and State President To Lam received Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in exchanges and cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities and Guangxi in recent years. Regular high-level contacts, as well as strengthened cooperation in economic, trade, and science and technology fields, were highlighted. Viet Nam has remained Guangxi’s largest trading partner for 27 consecutive years.

Regarding future cooperation, the Vietnamese leader proposed that Guangxi and Vietnamese localities make breakthroughs in five strategic areas of connectivity: development policies, economic and trade ties, logistics infrastructure, science and technology, and social foundations. He expressed his wish that Guangxi would effectively implement the annual early spring meeting programme among Party Secretaries of border provinces and regions, expand cooperation with other Vietnamese localities, and share experience in development policy and planning. He further called for enhanced exchanges, deeper economic linkages—particularly in trade and infrastructure—ensuring smooth customs clearance, and linking bilateral trade with infrastructure, logistics, supply chains and market connectivity. He stressed the need to accelerate multimodal transport connectivity across rail, road, and sea, with the highest priority given to railway cooperation, including standard-gauge lines such as Lang Son–Ha Noi and Mong Cai–Ha Long–Hai Phong.

THE YOUNG GENERATION WRITES NEW CHAPTERS OF FRIENDSHIP

A highlight of the State visit to China by General Secretary and State President To Lam was his joint meeting with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping with Chinese and Vietnamese youth participating in the “Red Study Tour” programme.

This activity reflected the special importance attached by the top leaders of both Parties and countries to nurturing and educating younger generations, enabling them to carry forward the revolutionary traditions of their predecessors. In April 2025, during Xi Jinping’s State visit to Viet Nam, the two sides launched the “Red Study Tour” programme. This initiative has become a notable highlight, contributing to stronger solidarity and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, reinforcing a solid social foundation, and enhancing young people’s awareness of the traditional Viet Nam–China relationship.

At the meeting, Xi Jinping expressed his hope that the youth of both countries would support one another, uphold revolutionary ideals, and further deepen the friendship between the two nations—“both comrades and brothers”.

Young people of both countries should shoulder responsibilities, seize historic opportunities, and use the strength and creativity of youth to spark a powerful wave of innovation, openness, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed his confidence that each young participant in the programme would take pride in and cherish the relationship of “both comrades and brothers” between the two Parties and peoples, cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong along with generations of revolutionary leaders. Today, the youth of both countries continue to serve as a core force in national development and an important bridge in fostering friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and nations.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam called on agencies and organisations of the two countries to adhere closely to high-level common perceptions, step up innovation in communication and education for younger generations about the traditional friendship between the two parties and countries; improve the quality of youth exchanges and cooperation; and further diversify exchanges among children of the two nations. He stressed that this is a strategic step to nurture the foundation of friendship from an early stage for future generations, while continuing to effectively implement the “Red Journey for Study and Research” programme so that young people of both countries can gain a deeper understanding of their heroic revolutionary history, the pure spirit of communist internationalism, and the mutual support between the two parties and countries.

Young people of the two countries will continue to write new chapters in Viet Nam–China friendship through their intellect, pioneering and creative spirit, aspiration to contribute, and sense of responsibility for their nations’ future— carrying forward the legacy of previous generations and bringing vitality and a bright future to bilateral relations.

As part of the visit, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam attended and delivered a policy speech at Tsinghua University.

Addressing faculty members and students, he noted that Tsinghua University has educated many great friends of the Vietnamese people, including China’s outstanding leaders, Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping, along with many other leaders of the Chinese Party and State. He emphasised that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people consistently regard the development of relations with China as an objective necessity, a strategic choice, and a top priority within Viet Nam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, resilience, multilateralisation and diversification. This consistent perception reflects the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, aligns with the aspirations of their peoples, and holds important significance for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and globally.

He proposed stronger breakthroughs in substantive cooperation, taking strategic connectivity as the focus, concrete effectiveness as the yardstick, and the interests of the two peoples as the goal. He also stressed the need to make science and technology, innovation and digital transformation new highlights and pillars of Viet Nam–China relations in the new period. General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his hope that Tsinghua University would further expand cooperation with Vietnamese universities and research institutes; increase student and scholar exchanges; strengthen joint training programmes and research collaboration; and establish co-supervised programmes, joint research groups, and shared laboratories in key fields.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, visited the Vietnamese Embassy in China and met with staff of representative agencies and the Vietnamese community in the country.

In a warm talks with overseas Vietnamese, embassy staff and representatives of Vietnamese agencies, he expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in China would continue to unite and support together, integrate actively, comply with local laws, and contribute to the host country’s development, while always looking towards the homeland and making new, practical, and effective contributions to national construction and development, as well as to bilateral cooperation — especially as both countries enter a new stage of development.

Within the framework of the visit, General Secretary and President To Lam also visited the China–ASEAN AI Application Cooperation Centre; attended the launch ceremony of the 2026 Viet Nam–China Border People’s Festival under the theme “Strengthening a Solid Social Foundation, Promoting Unity and Cooperation for Shared Development”; and visited Xiong’an New Area in Hebei Province, China, travelling by high-speed train.

The state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and the high-level Vietnamese delegation concluded successfully, marking a new beginning in the journey of fostering long-term cooperative and friendly relations between Viet Nam and China. The visit consolidated a solid foundation for both sides to continue advancing bilateral ties in a stable, healthy, sustainable, and long-term direction, while also creating important momentum for breakthroughs that will elevate relations between the two countries to a new level of development.