Vietnam, China pledge to expand trade, tourism ties during top leaders’ talks

The talks followed a state-level welcome ceremony hosted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People during Lam’s April 14–17 state visit to China at the latter’s invitation, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Xi welcomed Lam, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, highlighting the significance of the visit following the successful 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the completion of Vietnam’s leadership restructuring.

He said the visit underscored Vietnam’s high priority on its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, as well as the importance of bilateral ties.

Lam affirmed that Vietnam’s new leadership is committed to further developing bilateral relations with China and building a Vietnam–China community with a shared future of strategic significance.

He asserted that Vietnam consistently regards relations with China as a top foreign policy priority and a strategic choice in its independent, self-reliant, and diversified diplomacy.

He also expressed support for China’s global initiatives on development, security, civilization, and governance, reaffirming Vietnam’s consistent adherence to the One China policy.

On economic cooperation, Lam proposed elevating ties in trade, investment, tourism, and strategic infrastructure connectivity, particularly in railway development.

He called for shifting from basic trade exchanges to deeper economic integration linked to infrastructure, logistics, and market connectivity, while urging China to further open its market to Vietnamese goods and promote more balanced and sustainable trade.

He also encouraged increased Chinese investment, technology transfer, and the development of supporting industries, alongside efforts to build integrated production and supply chains and ensure energy security.

He further called for expanded cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, including more scholarships for Vietnamese students and stronger links between leading universities in both countries.

For his part, Xi welcomed Lam’s proposals and urged greater imports of Vietnamese goods, deeper cooperation in key industries, and expanded collaboration in production and supply chains, while encouraging more Chinese investment in Vietnam.

He also insisted on better alignment between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam’s ‘Two Corridors, One Belt’ framework, as well as faster progress on strategic infrastructure links, including railway projects connecting the two countries.

Xi said China supports Vietnam in pursuing its socialist development path under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and described the country as a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy.

He voiced confidence that Vietnam would achieve the goals set by its 14th National Party Congress and become a high-income developed country oriented toward socialism by 2045.

On tourism cooperation, the two sides announced the launch of the Vietnam–China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026–27 and agreed to step up tourism promotion, infrastructure upgrades, and service quality, while maintaining their positions as major tourism markets for each other.

Lam proposed that the two countries consider reciprocal visa exemptions for group tourists at selected destinations.

Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to satisfactorily resolving disagreements, strictly complying with the ASEAN–China consensus on implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea, and working toward an early, substantive, and effective Code of Conduct for the strategic waterway.

Lam emphasized the importance of respecting each other’s legitimate rights and interests and resolving differences through peaceful means in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Following the talks, both leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements across a wide range of areas, including Party affairs, public security, justice, economy, science and technology, supply chains, media, and local-level cooperation, reflecting the broad outcomes of the visit.