Fruitful results highlighted in trip to Vietnam

President Xi Jinping expressed strong confidence on Tuesday in the future of Sino-Vietnamese relations, urging both nations to fully implement the outcomes of his visit and to advance the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks as he wrapped up his two-day state visit to Vietnam, bidding farewell to To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

Xi noted that the visit, though brief, had a busy schedule and yielded fruitful results.

He said that both sides have reaffirmed their political will to strengthen the cause of world socialism and expressed shared anticipation for comprehensively advancing strategic cooperation in line with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores" — stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination and collaboration on multilateral affairs, and better management and resolution of differences.

Both nations also emphasized the need to resist external risks and challenges while safeguarding regional peace and stability, and international fairness and justice, he added.

To Lam told Xi that a series of key common understandings reached during the visit would significantly boost strategic collaboration between the two parties and nations, strengthen Vietnam's confidence in overcoming challenges, and elevate the friendship between their peoples to new heights.

To Lam pledged that Vietnam would actively implement outcomes of the visit and advance the development of relations between the two parties and nations, ushering in a future of shared prosperity.

On Tuesday, Xi and To Lam also witnessed the launching ceremony for the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism in Hanoi.

During Monday's talks with To Lam, Xi called for expanding higher quality, mutually beneficial cooperation, including realizing the comprehensive connection of standard-gauge railways, highways and smart ports at an early date.

To Lam said earlier in an article that both sides should focus on implementing major projects that will serve as new symbols of Vietnam-China cooperation, with the highest priority given to the development of three standard-gauge railway lines linking the two countries in strategic infrastructure connectivity.

Du Lan, deputy head of the China Institute of International Studies' Asia-Pacific Studies Department, said that Xi's choice of Vietnam as the first stop of his first overseas visit in 2025 underscores "the strategic importance of China-Vietnam ties".

China's six initiatives on strategic mutual trust, security, mutually beneficial cooperation, people-to-people ties, multilateral coordination and maritime interaction will transform the vision of a community with shared future between the two neighbors into reality, she added.

Du highlighted that bilateral agreements reached during the visit in a range of areas including artificial intelligence will elevate bilateral cooperation to new levels.

As Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while China is Vietnam's top trading partner, Du said Vietnam's partnership with China serves as a model for regional South-South cooperation.

Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, Du emphasized that both nations' commitment to multilateral efforts and opposition to trade protectionism will help strengthen regional economic resilience.

In another development, Cai Qi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China, met on Monday with Tran Cam Tu, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and a permanent member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized efforts to promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future with high level, quality and standards.