Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam to visit China to advance bilateral relations

Vietnam's Ambassador to China, Pham Thanh Binh, stated that the state visit by General Secretary and President To Lam carries historical significance, strategic orientation, and will create new momentum for bilateral cooperation. At the invitation of Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping and his wife, and Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam, the state visit to China will take place from April 14–17, 2026. This state visit is of special importance, representing the most prominent high-level bilateral foreign policy exchange between the two Parties and two states in 2026, according to Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh in an interview with TTXVN. THE VISIT HAS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIC DIRECTION According to the ambassador, this is To Lam’s first foreign trip since Vietnam consolidated its state leadership at the First Session of the 16th National Assembly; the first visit to China since the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and it takes place exactly one year after Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam. The ambassador emphasized that the visit occurs in a context where Vietnam–China relations continue to develop positively, with clear and comprehensive progress. Recent results such as the early-2026 high-level phone call, the 17th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, and the March 2026 ministerial-level Strategy Dialogue “3-3” have laid a favorable foundation for elevating the bilateral relationship. According to the ambassador, the shared understandings reached during the visit will play a deep strategic guiding role, helping the two Parties and two countries develop in a stable, healthy, and sustainable manner, opening a new phase for neighborly relations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and a Community of Shared Future between Vietnam and China with strategic significance. On substantive content, Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh said the two sides are actively preparing thoroughly both the program and the working content. During the visit, To Lam will have an important meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping and will meet other senior Chinese leaders. The two sides are expected to exchange in-depth on directions and major measures to move bilateral ties into a new development phase, while strengthening cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern and promoting cooperation within multilateral frameworks. SUBSTANTIVE COOPERATION REMAINS A HIGHLIGHT The ambassador noted that during the visit the two leaders will meet and speak with youth representatives from both countries taking part in the program “Journey of Red: Research and Study for Youth.” To Lam is also expected to deliver a policy speech at Tsinghua University, meet with prominent figures, and participate in and inaugurate several people-to-people, cultural, and tourism exchanges. These activities, the ambassador said, are meaningful for increasing mutual understanding and reinforcing the social foundation of the bilateral relationship, especially among the younger generation of the two countries. Assessing substantive cooperation, Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh said trade, investment, and tourism between the two countries continue to grow at double-digit rates. In 2025, bilateral trade reached USD 256.4 billion; China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, while Vietnam is China’s fourth-largest trading partner globally. Investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges have continued to yield positive results in early 2026. The ambassador underscored strategic connectivity cooperation, especially the three standard-gauge railway routes. The two sides are coordinating to complete the feasibility study for the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway, aiming to commence full construction in 2026, while actively developing planning for Lạng Sơn–Hà Nội and Móng Cái–Hạ Long–Hai Phòng routes. In addition, the two sides are intensifying digital infrastructure, transport infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, and logistics connectivity. In addition, cooperation in science and technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, high-tech agriculture, and clean energy is opening up new cooperation directions. Looking ahead, the ambassador said the two sides will focus on promoting economic integration, connecting strategic infrastructure, supply chains, and economic corridors; while strengthening cooperation in key areas such as science and technology, digital transformation, clean energy, education and training, and developing high-quality human resources, in line with each country’s development orientation in the new period. "Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm sẽ thăm cấp Nhà nước đến Trung Quốc"