Beijing: Vietnam’s President To Lam, accompanied by his spouse, arrived at Baiyun International Airport in China on Sunday for a three-day state visit. According to Chinese state media, the trip, confirmed by Beijing’s foreign ministry, will include high-profile meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
This marks To Lam’s first official visit to China since his recent elevation to the top position of General Secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party. State broadcaster CCTV reported that Lam arrived in Guangzhou and plans to visit locations where Vietnam’s revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh carried out significant activities during his time in the city.
Diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam were established in 1950. In 2008, the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, which was further bolstered in 2013 to address growing international and regional concerns.
Lam’s visit signifies the strong bond between the two communist neighbors, who have maintained close economic and trade relations despite occasional territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing portrayed Lam’s visit as a continuation of President Xi’s December trip to Vietnam, highlighting a “good start” in building a “China-Vietnam community of shared future with strategic significance,” as stated by the Chinese foreign ministry.
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The visit underscores Lam’s commitment to furthering ties with China. It is widely seen as a key diplomatic step in solidifying bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
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Last December, both countries signed over a dozen agreements, focusing on improving railway infrastructure and creating mechanisms to manage unexpected incidents in the South China Sea. However, the specific details of these agreements were not disclosed.
