Vietnamese President and Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, reviews the People’s Liberation Army honor guard. (VNA)
On April 15, Chinese Premier Li Qiang welcomed Vietnam’s General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the State President, Tô Lâm, in Beijing for a meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China who has served as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party since 2012.
Tô Lâm will remain in Beijing until April 17 to advance bilateral relations under the framework of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. His trip to Beijing marks his first-ever overseas visit since taking office.
During the official meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, both countries signed 16 multiple agreements, covering security, political, economic and infrastructure, trade, culture and health cooperation. These were formalised through multiple agreements, protocols and memoranda of understanding.
“Your visit to China at the earliest opportunity after being elected president of Vietnam demonstrates the great importance you have attached to the development of China-Vietnam relations,” Xi Jinping stated.
Xi also emphasised the development of new strategic pillars such as breakthrough technologies, semiconductors and the Internet of Things. He encouraged greater access for Vietnam’s products to enter the Chinese market in order to showcase trade integration and counter unilateralism.
Earlier, Tô Lâm mentioned the invitation from Xi Jinping, noting that he and high officials would pay a visit from April 14 to 17 to “inherit and promote the tradition of friendship.” He further stressed that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development will play an essential role in Vietnam’s development trajectory.
This year marks the 76th anniversary of both countries. Vietnam’s proximity to China has been highlighted due to the shared ideology that have long underpinned deep-seated diplomatic relations.
Upon Tô Lâm’s election on April 7, Xi Jinping congratulated To Lam, describing China–Vietnam relations as those of “comrades plus brothers” and pushed for strengthening existing frameworks to foster the common interests of state and party.
Both leaders are powerful figures in their respective countries, with both holding both the presidency and the general-secretaryship position at the same time.
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