Vietnam-China relations will make significant contribution to promoting cooperation and development in the region

Author: Duong Van Huy, Associate Professor, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam

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The visit to China (April 14-17, 2026) by General Secretary and President To Lam is an important diplomatic activity, affirming the high priority given to bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to continue deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. The primary and overarching focus of the visit was to strengthen the political foundation for bilateral relations. During high-level talks, both sides reaffirmed that Vietnam-China relations are a strategic choice and top priority, and they agreed to promote a “Vietnam-China Community with a Shared Future that carries strategic significance” following “six more” direction: Higher political trust; More substantive defence and security cooperation; Deeper substantive cooperation; a stronger social foundation; closer multilateral coordination; and better controlled and resolved differences. Vietnam and China issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to further deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership and promoting the building of a Vietnam-China community of shared future in the new era. The Joint Statement includes: political trust as the foundation; economy, technology, and infrastructure as the driving force; and a social and multilateral foundation as the guarantee.

First of all, it is important to note that this foreign visit by General Secretary and President To Lam comes right after the 16th National Assembly completed the consolidation of state leadership positions based on the very successful 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (14th Congress) and the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. The visit is considered by both sides to be the most important foreign policy activity of Vietnam-China relations in 2026, as both countries are entering a new stage of development. The 14th Congress of our Party has set out major goals and directions to lead the country steadily towards socialism in the new era, aiming to achieve strategic goals by 2030 and 2045. And 2026 marks the first year that China implements its 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The visit also conveys an important message from Vietnam regarding the implementation and concretisation of the Party’s independent, self-reliant, self-strengthening, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, increasing strategic competition, and a significant restructuring of global supply chains, the state visit to China by General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, To Lam, carries significance that transcends bilateral ties. In just four days, with a packed schedule of activities including talks with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping; meetings with Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning; as well as visits to the Xiong’an New Area, a speech at Tsinghua University, and a high-speed train journey between Beijing and Nanning, It sent a clear message: relations with China are not only a foreign policy priority but also a crucial axis in Vietnam’s long-term development strategy.

One of the most noticeable highlights in the Joint Statement between the two countries is the affirmation of the importance of strategic orientations and political foundations in bilateral relations. Both sides agreed that the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China both bear the historical mission of working for the happiness of their people, the development of their countries, and the progress of humanity. The persistent and strengthened comprehensive leadership of the two Parties is the fundamental guarantee for socialist modernisation in each country and for the healthy, stable, and long-term development of Vietnam-China relations. Both sides affirmed that developing Vietnam-China relations is a strategic choice with overall and long-term significance. China considers Vietnam a priority in its neighbourly diplomacy; Vietnam reaffirms that its relationship with China is a top priority in its independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy. Both sides agreed to inherit and promote the traditional friendship of “both comrades and brothers”, adhering to the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and looking towards the future”, the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners”, and the overall goal of “six more”, promoting the healthy and stable development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.

In addition, both sides affirmed their commitment to strengthening high-level exchanges and deepening defense and security cooperation. They agreed to maintain regular contact between the top leaders of the two Parties and countries through various forms; to promote the special role of the Party channel and bilateral coordination mechanisms, including the Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee and the “3+3” strategic dialogue mechanism between Vietnam and China’s foreign affairs, defense, and public security ministries; to coordinate overall development and security; to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation; and to promote the building of a Vietnam-China Community with a Shared Future that carries strategic significance and will progress even more positively. They also agreed to expand coordination between law enforcement, security, and judicial agencies. In particular, security cooperation will be expanded to non-traditional areas such as combating cross-border crime, telecommunications fraud, human trafficking, and high-tech crime—issues that directly impact social stability and the development environment of both countries.

On the other hand, the Joint Statement also reflects the two countries’ focus on economic, trade, and infrastructure connectivity, particularly railway cooperation and other strategic projects. Both sides agreed to strengthen strategic development connectivity and effectively implement the “Two Corridors, One Belt” framework of Viẹtam with the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI) of China. The focus is on infrastructure connectivity, logistics, border crossings, and cross-border economic corridors. Railway cooperation is identified as a new highlight, including standard-gauge railway lines connecting Vietnam and China and linking the region. China is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in terms of capital, technology, training, and industrial capacity in the railway sector. Both sides agreed to maintain open trade and investment, build safe and stable production and supply chains, and encourage businesses from both countries to invest and cooperate on a market-based and mutually beneficial basis. Cooperation has expanded into new areas such as the digital economy, green development, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, high technology, finance and monetary policy, cross-border retail payments using QR codes, and the increased use of local currencies. Cooperation in science and technology, innovation, technology transfer, intellectual property, and high-quality human resource training continues to be strengthened. Both sides have also enhanced cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, water resources, the environment, climate change response, and socio-economic projects.

Furthermore, in the Joint Statement, the two countries emphasised strengthening cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and in-depth economic linkages. Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in high-tech fields, enhance connectivity in production and supply chains, and accelerate technology transfer and high-quality human resource training. The formation of a working group on production and supply chains shows that cooperation is shifting from trade to joint participation and shaping value chains. In particular, infrastructure cooperation was identified as a strategic priority. Both sides agreed to give top priority to railway cooperation, appreciated the ahead-of-schedule completion of the feasibility study report for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong line, and welcomed the signing of agreements to support the planning of the Dong Dang – Hanoi and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong lines.

Regarding maritime issues, both sides agreed to adhere to the common understanding of high-level leaders, persistently resolving them through friendly consultations in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), refraining from actions that complicate the situation or expand disputes, and promoting substantive and effective DOC and COC negotiations. This demonstrates that political trust is not only a foundation but also a tool for managing differences in the new context.

The joint statement shows that both sides are expanding the social foundation to ensure strategic sustainability. Besides the two main pillars of politics and economics, the visit also demonstrates an increasing focus on the social foundation and multilateral cooperation space. Youth, local, cultural, and educational exchanges are being promoted; the “Vietnam-China Tourism Year 2026-2027” is being launched, along with cooperation programmes in education, vocational training, and academic exchange. These initiatives are not only symbolic but also contribute to building a sustainable social foundation for bilateral relations.

Another important point to note is that the relationship between the two countries extends beyond bilateral relations. The two countries are strengthening coordination and cooperation within multilateral cooperation mechanisms at the regional and global levels. At the regional and global levels, they are enhancing coordination within mechanisms such as APEC, ASEAN, and the Mekong-Lancang region, while also promoting the implementation of trade agreements like RCEP and supporting regional economic connectivity initiatives. China's support for Vietnam hosting APEC 2027 and Vietnam's support for China hosting APEC 2026 demonstrate the increasing level of coordination and trust.

Last but not least, this is the rapid progress in Vietnam-China relations today is significant not only for the two countries but also for promoting regional cooperation. Vietnam is an active member of ASEAN, so the development of Vietnam-China relations contributes positively to the development of ASEAN-China relations and to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world. In the context of an increasingly complex global situation and armed conflicts occurring in many places, the Asia-Pacific region has so far maintained an environment of peace, stability, and cooperation, serving as a bright spot in regional cooperation globally. However, this region also faces significant risks, but bilateral cooperation among countries in the region, including Vietnam-China relations, contributes to finding solutions to prevent potential conflicts and promote cooperation. Therefore, the current development of Vietnam-China relations has gone beyond the scope of bilateral relations, and this relationship will make a significant contribution to promoting cooperation and development in the region.

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