President Vo Van Thuong welcomes General Secretary and President Xi Jinping

On December 13, at the Presidential Palace, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong engaged in talks with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

President Vo Van Thuong warmly welcomed General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, along with his wife Peng Liyuan and the high-ranking delegation of the Chinese Party and State, on their state-level visit to Vietnam. He expressed confidence that following the historic visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong after the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022, this visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will elevate relations between the two Parties and two countries to a new stage of development, characterized by enhanced effectiveness and sustainability.

General Secretary and President Xi Jinping conveyed gratitude to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and other senior leaders of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the warm welcome extended to the high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of China.

During the talks, the two leaders exchanged congratulations on the notable achievements accomplished by each Party and country in the ongoing pursuit of socialism, bringing prosperity and happiness to their people. President Vo Van Thuong reaffirmed the enduring nature of the traditional friendship between the two Parties and two countries, emphasizing its historical resilience shaped by leaders such as President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong, and steadfastly forged through the challenges of history.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping 

This bilateral relationship has evolved into a shared and invaluable asset for both nations, necessitating cultivation, preservation, and sustained nurturing by current and future generations. President Vo Van Thuong affirmed that Vietnam's Party, State and People consistently acknowledge the significant assistance provided by the Party, State, and people of China during the national liberation and development period. He underscored that fostering relations with China remains a strategic choice and a top priority within Vietnam's foreign policy framework.

The two leaders acknowledged the success of their talks, which revealed many important common perceptions between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. The new positioning of bilateral relations and the six pillars of cooperation established by the two Party General Secretaries clearly indicated the direction and heralded a period of fruitful cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries in the new era.

President Vo Van Thuong expressed his hope that the two sides will increase exchanges, share experiences in national construction and development, and enhance practical cooperation in spheres, especially in stronger, more effective trade and investment. He also proposed expanding traffic connections, boosting cooperation in agriculture, environment, science and technology, and health. Furthermore, he suggested that the two countries strengthen people-to-people exchanges, organize cultural exchange activities, and enhance communications to foster Vietnam-China friendship. This will encourage people, especially youths, to know, understand, and be close to each other, thus helping consolidate the social foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

Appreciating President Thuong's proposals, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping expressed the expectation for the ongoing consolidation of the political foundation and the reinforcement of practical cooperation to stimulate economic recovery and development. He acknowledged the untapped potential for further expansion of bilateral cooperation and recommended an enhancement of strategic connectivity between the two economies. This involves the effective implementation of the plan to integrate the "Belt and Road Initiative" with the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework. The objective is to establish stable regional supply and production chains, fortify cooperation among State-owned enterprises, and broaden the use of local currencies in bilateral trade transactions.

General Secretary and President Xi Jinping affirmed China's readiness to increase imports of merchandise, particularly high-quality agricultural products, from Vietnam. He expressed a commitment to encouraging Chinese companies to elevate their level of high-quality investments, showcasing advancements in Chinese science and technology.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping

Underscoring the significance of bolstering mutual understanding and trust, Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to intensify exchanges and contacts between the two nations, with a specific emphasis on fostering connections among the youth. Additionally, he urged increased communication efforts to promote the longstanding tradition of friendship between the two sides.

The two leaders engaged in discussions on maritime issues, reaching an agreement to collaborate in maintaining peace and stability at sea. President Vo Van Thuong advocated for a persistent commitment to peaceful measures in accordance with international law and common high-level understandings. He urged both parties to empathize with each other's perspectives, manage and satisfactorily resolve differences, and closely coordinate with ASEAN to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). Moreover, they pledged to expedite the development of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), aligning with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordination at multilateral forums for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world