President Xi Jinping has called on China and Vietnam to maintain close high-level exchanges, push for more outcomes of bilateral cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges, as the two countries usher in the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Wednesday during phone talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam.
The conversation came several months after the Vietnamese leader visited China in August, soon after taking office as general secretary that same month.
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Xi said progress has been made in implementing the consensus reached in August between the two leaders.
As 2025 marks the final year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and is a crucial year for the CPV to prepare for its 14th National Party Congress, Xi said this year bears great significance for both China and Vietnam.
The two sides should continue to build up their parties, strengthen exchanges on socialist theories and practice, and push for the stronger development of the socialist cause amid ongoing global transformation, he said.
Xi stressed the need to give full play to the political guiding role of high-level exchanges and called for efforts to promote mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve more results.
China and Vietnam should step up connectivity, jointly build a frontier platform for cooperation on new quality productive forces, and build stable and smooth cross-border industrial and supply chains, he said.
China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, and bilateral trade, which exceeded 1.67 trillion yuan ($227.8 billion) in the first 11 months of last year, is characterized by a diverse range of goods, including electronics, machinery, textiles and agricultural products.
Xi called on the two neighboring countries to engage their peoples in exchanges with a human touch, strengthen cooperation in such areas as media, tourism and youth, and build more projects in the public interest.
The two countries should also strengthen coordination on global and regional issues, uphold international fairness and justice, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.
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To Lam expressed to Xi his sincere condolences over the loss of lives and property caused by the earthquake in Dingri county in southwestern China's Xizang autonomous region.
Noting that Vietnam will continue to consider the relationship with China a top priority in its foreign policy, the Vietnamese leader said his country will strengthen strategic communication between the two parties and countries, enhance policy coordination, and jointly organize activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
He also said that Vietnam will make joint efforts with China to properly manage and resolve differences, and to promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
The two leaders also jointly announced the official launch of the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and they exchanged greetings ahead of Spring Festival, wishing the people of both countries good health and prosperity.
