Vietnam–China economic cooperation raised to a new level, with infrastructure connectivity as a breakthrough

In the afternoon of April 15, Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lâm met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to exchange major directions for promoting the comprehensive, substantive, and sustainable development of bilateral relations in the new period.

Premier Li Qiang congratulated To Lâm on his election as President and said he respected and welcomed Vietnam’s top leader’s state visit to China as the first such visit in his tenure. Li described the meeting as a vivid demonstration of Vietnam’s high regard for the Vietnam–China relationship and said he was confident the visit would inject momentum and provide direction for deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Prosperity and Development.

The leaders recalled significant results and common understanding reached during talks between To Lâm and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed China’s continued friendship policy toward Vietnam, describing Vietnam as a priority in its neighborly diplomacy. The Communist Party and Government of China also said they consistently support Vietnam’s Communist Party leadership and To Lâm in fulfilling the goals set by the 14th National Congress, moving toward implementing development visions through 2045.

Economic and trade cooperation remains a shared priority

To Lâm thanked China’s Party, State, Government, and people for the warm reception of the Vietnamese delegation. He said Vietnam intends to advance substantive cooperation with China in economics, trade, investment, tourism, and rail connectivity, with an emphasis on balanced and sustainable trade and stronger sustainable economic linkages. He called for breakthroughs in strategic infrastructure connectivity, placing rail cooperation as the top priority.

To Lâm proposed that China support Vietnam with preferential loans, human resource training, and technology transfer so Vietnam can gradually master the operation, maintenance, and repair of electrified rail lines. The two sides also discussed expanding railway connectivity to Central Asia and Europe and promoting multi-modal logistics links.

To Lâm urged the two countries to replicate smart-border models and implement cross-border economic cooperation zones in border provinces to facilitate the flow of goods and improve regional supply-chain efficiency. He also proposed that China support and facilitate Vietnam’s participation in the “Sharing the Large Market – China Exports” initiative, and continue opening markets for high-quality Vietnamese agricultural, aquatic products, and livestock goods to meet standards.

The leaders also discussed increasing power capacity and imports from China.

Investment, technology transfer and supply-chain links

On investment cooperation, To Lâm called for high-quality investment and stronger cooperation in science and technology, education and training, finance, agriculture, and the environment. He said the two sides should accelerate technology transfer in cutting-edge areas including artificial intelligence, smart urban development, free-trade zones, and smart manufacturing, while jointly addressing environmental pollution in large cities and speeding up projects funded by China.

Premier Li Qiang said China values substantive, mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnam and is ready to prioritize infrastructure connectivity cooperation—especially rail—along with technology, human-resource training, and capital mobilization. He said China aims to effectively implement standard-gauge railway projects linking the two countries.

Premier Li also said China is willing to expand imports of high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products, support Vietnam’s participation in the “Sharing the Large Market – China Exports” initiative, and coordinate in building cross-border economic cooperation zones. China encouraged expanding bilateral investment and building safe, stable supply chains and production networks in the region, and said it supports more capable Chinese enterprises to broaden high-quality investments in Vietnam.

The two sides agreed to explore and promote new areas of cooperation, focusing on science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, and artificial intelligence.

People-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation

The two leaders pledged to maintain vibrant people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to implement concrete programs under the 2026–2027 Year of Tourism Cooperation and to strengthen education and training cooperation, especially in training high-quality human resources.

Regional and international coordination

On regional and international issues, the two sides agreed to intensify multilateral cooperation, manage and resolve differences effectively, maintain peace and stability in the seas, and create favorable conditions for each country’s development.

To Lâm urged both sides to strictly implement high-level common understandings, respect each other’s legitimate rights and interests, resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law—including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—and accelerate negotiations for a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Legal cooperation to deepen bilateral ties

To Lâm highlighted youth as an important bridge to advance Vietnam–China relations and reaffirmed the importance of fostering a generation that sustains friendly ties. Vietnam and China also agreed to strengthen legal-cooperation exchanges and sustain mutual trust and cooperative momentum across multiple fronts.

Both sides said they will build on this foundation to elevate bilateral ties to new heights, based on shared interests and strategic consideration for both peoples and economies.