HCMC – State President Vo Van Thuong is set to attend the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, from October 17 to 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

The ministry's notice, released on October 12, stated that President Thuong's trip comes at the invitation from the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping. This is Thuong's first visit to China in his capacity as State President of Vietnam. In recent years, Vietnam and China have achieved positive results across various fields, particularly following the official visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China from October 10 to November 1, 2022. High-ranking delegations from both countries have frequently exchanged visits this year. From January to September, Vietnam's total trade with China amounted to US$122 billion, with Vietnamese exports to China accounting for US$42.9 billion, or 16.6% of the country's total export revenue. In the first nine months of the year, China got involved in 478 investment projects in Vietnam, worth a combined US$2.1 billion, making it Vietnam's second-largest investor after Singapore. The Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create new trade routes connecting China with the rest of the world, was first introduced by President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central Asia in September 2013 and Southeast Asia in October 2013. Vietnam has previously sent high-ranking leaders to participate in the two Belt and Road forums held by China in May 2017 and April 2019. The State President's visit to China is of utmost significance as it coincides with the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative's development. The visit underscores the high importance and priority placed by the Vietnamese Party and State on strengthening relations with China. It also shows Vietnam's respect for connectivity initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world, according to Vietnam’s Ambassador to China, Pham Sao Mai.