Author: Wu Xiaodan (Special Researcher, Center for Diplomatic Thought).
At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thanh, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China paid a state visit to Vietnam from December 12 to 13. This is an important milestone in the journey of building on the past and forging ahead into the future. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the overall, strategic and directional issues of the relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, clarified the new positioning of the bilateral relations, consolidated and deepened the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam as socialist friendly neighbors, and injected strong impetus into the opening of a new stage of China-Vietnam relations from a higher starting point. At the same time, it will continue to send a clear signal to the world to promote the building of a community with a shared future around the world, add new impetus to the stable development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and inject more certainty and stability into the chaotic world.
China and Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers, shared cultures, have the same ideals and share a common destiny. **Ho Chi Minh and other leaders of the older generation of the two countries have intertwined with each other with common ideals and beliefs, and have joined hands to create the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam of "comrades and brothers". Over the past 73 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, under the guidance of the 16-character principle of "long-term stability, future-oriented, good-neighborliness, friendship, and all-round cooperation" and the spirit of "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners," the two countries have supported each other in their respective struggles for national independence and national liberation, learned from each other in the cause of reform, opening up, and reform, and made great progress in bilateral relations.
At present, the world is in a new period of turbulence and change, with hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism on the rise, and regional peace and development facing great instability and uncertainty. Both China and Vietnam are advancing the cause of reform and innovation suited to their respective national conditions and exploring the path of modernization suited to their own national conditions, and the socialist undertakings of both countries have entered a critical stage. This visit coincides with the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam, and is also the third visit to Vietnam by Comrade *** as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. It is of special significance for the leaders of the two countries to strengthen strategic communication and draw a blueprint for bilateral relations, raise the flag and orient the two countries, and to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility, seek common development and cooperation, create prosperity and strength, and embark on a sunny road of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Establish a new orientation for the relations between the two parties and two countries. Both China and Vietnam adhere to the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties, which is the greatest advantage and the most important political guarantee for the development of relations between the two parties and two countries. During the visit, the two sides announced the new positioning of the relations between the two parties and two countries between China and Vietnam, and jointly built a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance on the basis of deepening the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. As good neighbors, good partners, good brothers and good comrades, China and Vietnam have the unique advantages of building a community with a shared future of strategic significance in terms of time, place and people. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam, it is a natural trend for the two sides to upgrade the new positioning of their relations, which is in line with the common aspirations and interests of the two countries, and is also conducive to regional and world peace and development. With a new positioning, a new starting point and a new goal, China and Vietnam will work together to face the future, which will surely open a new stage in bilateral relations and write a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Paving the fast track for joint development. As friendly neighbors, like-mindedness and shared destiny are the most distinctive characteristics of China-Vietnam relations. The two sides have strengthened cooperation in the political, economic, trade, and security fields in an all-round way, and jointly written a chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship. At present, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, Vietnam's reform and opening up is in a critical period, and China-Vietnam cooperation is facing a key historical opportunity. During the visit, the General Secretary pointed out the direction for the future development of China-Vietnam relations. Politically, we must set the right direction. It is necessary to adhere to the high-level strategic guidance, strengthen the exchange and mutual learning of experience in governing the party and the country, and jointly deepen the understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party, socialist construction, and the development of human society. In terms of security, it is necessary to deepen mutual trust. It is necessary to put the maintenance of national political security in the first place, ensure that the color of the socialist red flag remains unchanged, and make every effort to prevent, defuse, and curb all kinds of political security risks. In terms of pragmatic cooperation, it is necessary to improve the quality and upgrade. The modernization of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people as a whole is a huge opportunity that China has brought to the world, and China is willing to share the opportunity with Vietnamese comrades and seek common development. On the basis of public opinion, it is necessary to increase input. China-Vietnam cooperation should be more inclined to agriculture, education, medical care and other areas of people's livelihood, strengthen cooperation in youth, tourism, local and other fields, increase the understanding of the people of the two countries of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future and the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries, enhance the feelings between the younger generation, and consolidate the public opinion foundation of China-Vietnam friendship. On maritime issues, differences must be managed. The two sides should actively carry out more maritime cooperation projects, strive to promote joint maritime development, and turn the challenges brought about by maritime issues into opportunities for deepening cooperation between the two sides.
It is believed that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two sides, China-Vietnam relations will enter a new stage of greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, a firmer foundation of public opinion, tighter multilateral coordination and cooperation, and better management and resolution of differences.
Drawing a new vision for Asia's development and prosperity. The surrounding area is the foundation of China's development and prosperity. Vietnam is China's close neighbor and an important member of ASEAN, and China's head of state diplomacy has once again settled in the periphery at the end of the year, with a broad vision facing ASEAN and radiating to the surrounding areas. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's practice of the concept of amity, sincerity, benevolence and tolerance in its neighboring diplomacy. Over the past decade, China has established a variety of forms of cooperative relations with 28 neighboring countries and ASEAN, from the hinterland of the Eurasian continent to the Pacific coast, from the smooth opening of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway to the 10-year construction of the China-Pakistan Economic CorridorThe 0 version of the negotiation has been accelerated to the continuous release of the dividends of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and the flourishing trees of the surrounding community with a shared future have spread out and are full of vitality, providing strong support for the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. China is committed to providing new opportunities for its neighbors through Chinese-style modernization, promoting the development of its neighbors through its own development, and injecting inexhaustible impetus into global development. At present, the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future continues to advance. China and ASEAN countries have achieved win-win cooperation, unity and self-reliance, with a cumulative two-way investment of more than US$380 billion, bringing fruitful results and vigorous vitality to regional cooperation, and becoming a model of cooperation between China and its neighboring countries. The building of a community with a shared future of strategic significance between China and Vietnam will attract more countries to devote themselves to the great cause of building a community with a shared future in Asia and a community with a shared future for mankind, provide more positive energy for Asia's rapid development and good-neighborliness and friendship, and make greater contributions to world peace and development.
Drinking the same river water, fate is closely linked. Standing at a new historical starting point, China and Vietnam will uphold the original aspiration of cooperation, focus on common development, and walk side by side with regional countries to create a better tomorrow with a shared future.
Bright**, December 14, 2023, 12th edition).