 National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan |
Ms. Ngan’s visit takes place amidst a rapid growth of relations between the two Parties and countries. This is the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since China successfully concluded its 19th Party Congress in 2017.
Highlights in Vietnam-China relations
Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi said the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has been expanded with growing political trust. The two countries have increased exchanges of leaders’ visits to boost cooperation in all fields.
China has for the last 15 years been Vietnam’s largest trade partner. Vietnam is China’s 8th largest partner globally and its biggest trade partner in ASEAN. In the first five months of this year bilateral trade totaled 43.5 billion USD, up 12.6%. In the first half of this year, China’s FDI to Vietnam rose 2.8 fold against the same period last year. China is also Vietnam’s 3rd largest investor with a total investment of nearly 2.3 billion USD accounting for 12.4% of Vietnam’s total FDI. Ambassador Khoi said: “Bilateral trade has grown rapidly while Vietnamese enterprises have expanded their operation in China. Vietnam’s exports to China have increased more rapidly than its imports from China, especially the export of agricultural and fishery products.”
People-to-people exchanges have reinforced friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples and contributed to the increase of economic, trade and investment exchanges. Vietnam and China have become favorite destinations of the other’s tourists who numbered 10 million last year. In the first half of this year, Vietnam received nearly 2.5 million Chinese tourists. Vietnamese has also become a favorite foreign language for Chinese students. During Ms Ngan’s visit, Vietnam Cultural Days in China will be held to help Chinese people better understand Vietnam. Ambassador Khoi said Vietnam and China have agreed to work closely to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea: Mr. Khoi said: “During recent meetings, leaders of the two Parties and countries reiterated their determination to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea through peaceful means and in line with international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam and China have agreed to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and promptly finalize the Code of Conduct.”
Further strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership
Chairwoman Ngan’s visit is expected to help further bilateral ties between the two Parties, countries and National Assemblies, increase exchanges of legislative experience, strengthen the implementation of signed agreements, and boost cooperation and mutual support at regional and global parliamentary forums.