General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping begins visit to Vietnam

On the afternoon of December 12, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his wife arrived in Hanoi, starting a State visit to Vietnam from December 12-13 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong and his wife.

Member of the Politburo, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh went to Noi Bai International Airport to welcome General Secretary, President Xi Jinping and the high-ranking Chinese delegation.

Welcoming General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and the Chinese delegation at the airport were: Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Internal Affairs Commission Phan Dinh Trac; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung; Party Central Committee member, Head of the President's Office Le Khanh Hai; Party Central Committee member, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Si Thanh; leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies and Hanoi city; Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hung Ba.

Representatives of all walks of life of the Vietnamese people and Chinese people in Vietnam; officials and staff of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam warmly welcomed General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, his wife and the Chinese delegation.

This is the third State visit of Comrade Xi Jinping to Vietnam in his capacity as General Secretary and President of the People's Republic of China, and the first time that General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping has made a separate visit to a country since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The visit takes place one year after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's historic visit to China.

The visit is of great significance to the relationship between the two Parties and two countries; affirming the importance and top priority of both countries in consolidating the Vietnam-China relationship to develop firmly, stably and sustainably, for the benefit of both countries.

The visit takes place in the context of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership developing positively in all areas. In particular, political understanding and trust between the two sides have been enhanced, contributing to strengthening political relations between the two Parties and two countries; visits and exchanges at high and all levels are held regularly.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to expand positively. China is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner and second largest import market. Vietnam is China's fourth largest trading partner and largest in the ASEAN region, with two-way trade turnover reaching 175 billion USD in 2022.

China ranks 6th among 144 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with a cumulative capital of 26 billion USD. In addition, other areas of cooperation such as defense, security, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, tourism, health, education, training, sports, science, technology, etc. have also been strengthened.

During this State visit to Vietnam, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping will hold talks and meetings with the highest leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State.

The two sides will review the results of cooperation achieved in the past time. Based on the advantages, potentials, needs and existing foundation of bilateral relations, the two sides will propose directions and tasks to consolidate and develop the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the coming time, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.