Vietnamese Prime Minister Meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin

Tianjin, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on Saturday during his working trip to Tianjin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025.

PM Chính conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, President Lương Cường, and other senior Vietnamese leaders to President Xi and the Chinese leadership. He expressed appreciation for China’s participation in Việt Nam’s recent national celebrations, including the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, as well as the 80th anniversary of National Day.

Congratulating China on its achievements under the CPC’s leadership with Xi at its core, the Vietnamese leader highlighted China’s role as a driving force of global economic growth and a contributor of solutions to major global challenges. He welcomed the theme of this year’s expanded SCO Summit, affirming Việt Nam’s readiness to work with China and other countries to promote multilateralism, sustainable development, and joint responses to regional and international issues.

President Xi welcomed PM Chính’s participation in the SCO Summit, describing it as a reflection of Việt Nam’s strong commitment to bilateral relations and its support for multilateral events hosted by China. He extended greetings to Vietnamese leaders and congratulated the Vietnamese Party, State, and people on the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.

Reviewing progress in bilateral ties, PM Chính identified six notable outcomes: enhanced strategic trust and exchanges; stronger defence and security cooperation; closer economic connectivity, especially in rail and aviation; robust trade and investment growth; deeper industrial and supply chain integration; and strengthened people-to-people foundations. He reiterated that developing ties with China remains an objective requirement, strategic choice, and top priority in Việt Nam’s foreign policy.

Both leaders pledged to advance cooperation under six major orientations, focusing on expanding economic connectivity, strengthening strategic exchanges, and boosting collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.

PM Chính proposed maintaining flexible exchanges between the two Party General Secretaries, making defence-security cooperation more substantive through specific military trade projects, and convening the first Việt Nam–China joint railway cooperation committee at the earliest. He also urged China to prioritise Việt Nam in regional railway industry development, speed up concessional loan agreements, feasibility studies, and workforce training.

In trade, he called for greater Chinese imports of Vietnamese agricultural products, swift approval of quarantine protocols for pomelo, seafood, and meat exports, and the expansion of “smart border gate” models. He also suggested deepened cooperation in clean energy, power connectivity, and electricity trade, alongside enhanced collaboration in AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, and low-orbit satellites.

The Vietnamese leader further welcomed expanded cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including the Year of Việt Nam–China Humanistic Exchange, youth programmes, visa exemptions, and additional commercial flights.

President Xi endorsed these proposals, stressing the importance of high-level exchanges, stronger infrastructure connectivity — particularly railway projects — and well-prepared activities for the 75th anniversary of China–Việt Nam diplomatic ties. He also reaffirmed support for Việt Nam in successfully hosting the 14th National Party Congress.

Both sides exchanged views on maritime issues and agreed to implement common perceptions of their top leaders, striving to manage and resolve differences while preserving peace, cooperation, and development in the region.