Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 20

Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Further Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Promoting the Building of a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future

I. At the invitation of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, paid a state visit to China from August 18 to 20, 2024.

During the visit, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping held talks with General Secretary and President Vo Van Thuong. Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning also met with General Secretary and President Vo Van Thuong. In a friendly and candid atmosphere, both sides briefed each other on the situation of their respective parties and countries, exchanged in-depth views on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, promoting the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and issues of common concern in the international and regional arena, and reached important consensus.

II. The two parties are the two ruling communist parties in the world today, shouldering the historical mission of seeking happiness for the people, development for the country, and progress for humanity. In the cause of striving for national independence and national liberation, the two parties, two countries, and two peoples have supported each other and forged a traditional friendship of "deep Vietnam-China friendship, comrades and brothers". This year marks the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary activities in Guangdong. In 2025, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam and the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Entering a new era, both sides will remain true to their original aspiration of friendship, keep in mind their common mission, unswervingly follow the path of socialist modernization that suits their own national conditions, follow the path of China-Vietnam friendship pioneered by the leaders of the two parties and two countries, continuously deepen and enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance, push the relations between the two parties and two countries to a new level, strive for the happiness of the people and the prosperity of the country, strive to promote the development of the socialist cause, and strive for the cause of world peace and progress.

III. The Vietnamese side warmly congratulates the People's Republic of China on its 75th anniversary and the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It highly appreciates the great achievements made by China in the new era and believes that the Chinese path to modernization has expanded the path choices and practical solutions for the independent development of developing countries, and that China's further comprehensive deepening of reforms and high-level opening up will bring new impetus and opportunities for the development of all countries. The Vietnamese side wishes and believes that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese Communist Party, government, and people will surely build a modern socialist country in all respects and successfully achieve the second centenary goal.

The Chinese side congratulates and highly commends the significant achievements made by Vietnam in its nearly 40 years of renovation and nearly 15 years of implementing the "National Construction Program in the Transition to Socialism (supplemented and revised in 2011)", especially the remarkable and comprehensive achievements made in various fields since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, pushing Vietnam's comprehensive strength and international influence to unprecedented heights. The Chinese side wishes and believes that under the correct leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headed by Comrade Vo Van Thuong, the Vietnamese Party, state, and people will surely successfully achieve the major goals and tasks set out by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, prepare well for and successfully convene the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2026, and achieve the goal of building Vietnam into a high-income developed country with socialist orientation by 2045. The Chinese side reiterates its support for Vietnam's national development and prosperity, the happiness of its people, the construction of a strong, independent, and autonomous economic system, the coordinated advancement of renovation, industrialization, and modernization, full integration into the international community, and the development of extensive and friendly external relations, so as to play an even more important role in regional and world peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

IV. The Chinese side emphasizes its adherence to a friendly policy towards Vietnam and always regards Vietnam as a priority direction in its peripheral diplomacy. The Vietnamese side reiterates that it always regards its relationship with China as the top priority of Vietnam's independent, multi-faceted, and diversified foreign policy. This is a strategic choice for both sides.

Both sides emphasize the importance of earnestly implementing the consensus and achievements reached during the mutual visits by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, in particular the two historic visits by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in 2022 and 2023, respectively issuing the "Joint Statement on Further Strengthening and Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Vietnam" and the "Joint Statement on Further Deepening and Enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future of Strategic Significance", following the "sixteen-character" guideline and the "four-good" spirit, adhering to the implementation of the "six more" goals, including higher political mutual trust, more substantial security cooperation, deeper pragmatic cooperation, stronger public support, closer multilateral coordination and cooperation, and better management and resolution of differences, promoting the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future to achieve more pragmatic results, striving for the happiness of the people and the prosperity of the country, and striving for world peace and progress.

V. Both sides reiterate the importance of maintaining high-level strategic communication between the two parties and two countries to jointly guide the development of China-Vietnam relations. They will give full play to the special role of party-to-party channels, further strengthen the overall coordination role of the cooperation and exchange mechanisms between the two parties, in particular high-level meetings between the two parties, theoretical seminars between the two parties, and exchanges between the external affairs departments of the two parties, improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the counterpart departments of the two party centrals and local governments of the two countries, especially the party organizations in border provinces (regions), comprehensively carry out exchanges of theories and experiences in governing the party and the country, jointly deepen understanding of the laws governing the rule of the Communist Party, the laws governing socialist construction, and the laws governing the development of human society, and serve the development of the respective party building and socialist undertakings. They will give full play to the role of mechanisms such as the Joint Committee of the National People's Congress of China and the National Assembly of Vietnam, and friendly exchanges between the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and border provincial organizations, and strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation. Both sides agree that the China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee will strengthen overall coordination and guide various departments and localities of the two countries in promoting the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and strengthen mechanism-based cooperation in strategic areas such as diplomacy, national defense, and security.

The Vietnamese side reiterates its firm adherence to the one-China policy, recognizing that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. It supports the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and China's great cause of reunification, firmly opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan. The Vietnamese side believes that issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are China's internal affairs and believes that under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and government, these regions will maintain stability and prosperous development. The Chinese side supports Vietnam in maintaining social stability, safeguarding national security and development, and achieving national unity.

VI. Both sides reiterate that defense and security cooperation is one of the pillars of China-Vietnam relations. They agree to strengthen defense and security cooperation, strengthen exchanges at all levels of the two militaries through channels such as friendly exchanges between border defense forces and defense and security consultations, deepen exchanges between border guards, navies, and coast guards, and promote cooperation in areas such as political work, national defense industry, mutual visits of warships, and UN peacekeeping operations. They will strengthen mechanisms such as the ministerial-level meeting on cooperation between the two countries' ministries of public security to combat crime, the strategic security dialogue, and the political security working group, promote cooperation in areas such as combating telecom fraud, cybersecurity, economic crime, human trafficking, organizing illegal entry and exit, and repatriation of fugitives and stolen assets, strengthen communication, and promote the establishment of a hotline between the two countries' ministries of public security. They will expedite the approval and entry into force of the "Treaty between China and Vietnam on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons", establish and expand cooperation between China's Ministry of Emergency Management and Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. They will strengthen information exchange and experience sharing on counter-interference, counter-secession, and prevention of "color revolutions", and jointly maintain political security and institutional security. They will strengthen cooperation in the legal and judicial fields of the two countries to provide legal guarantees for cooperation in various fields between China and Vietnam.

VII. Both sides agree to promote the alignment of the two countries' development strategies, implement the cooperation plan for aligning the Belt and Road Initiative and the "two corridors and one circle" framework, accelerate the advancement of "hard connectivity" of railway, highway, and port infrastructure between the two countries, improve "soft connectivity" of smart customs, and China agrees to provide support for Vietnam in formulating the planning of the Lang Son-Hanoi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong standard-gauge railway projects and the feasibility study report of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong standard-gauge railway project. They will promote the pilot construction of smart ports at the Youyi Pass-Youyi and Pu Zhai-Xinqing freight-only channels. They will actively explore the pilot construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones and jointly build safe and stable industrial and supply chains.

Both sides encourage and support capable, reputable enterprises with advanced technologies to invest in each other's countries, focusing on strengthening cooperation in high-tech agriculture, infrastructure, clean energy, digital economy, and green development. A fair and convenient business environment will be created for each other's enterprises. Deepen the exchange of experience in state-owned enterprise reform and management between the two countries, and conduct personnel training cooperation. Actively explore strengthening cooperation in the field of key minerals. Make good use of the bilateral financial and monetary cooperation working group to strengthen information communication and experience sharing on policy regulation and reform in the financial and monetary fields, and promote monetary cooperation. Accelerate the implementation of economic and technological cooperation projects such as the second branch of the Traditional Medicine College.

Make good use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, utilize platforms such as e-commerce and exhibitions, strengthen customs cooperation, and expand the export of each other's advantageous products. China is willing to continue to create favorable conditions for the early establishment of trade promotion offices in relevant Chinese localities for Vietnam. Vietnam supports China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on the basis of compliance with standards and procedures, and actively welcomes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

VIII. Both sides reiterate the importance of upholding the original aspiration of traditional friendship, remembering the common ideal and mission, and making persistent efforts to strengthen China-Vietnam friendly publicity. Both sides announced 2025 as the "China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges," and will jointly hold a series of events to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. Through party-to-party, youth, and sister-city channels, making good use of the red resources of Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Chongqing provinces and municipalities, creating diverse study tours and cultural tourism activities. Encourage more tourists to visit each other's countries. Give full play to the role of the Chinese Cultural Center in Vietnam, welcome Vietnam to establish a cultural center in China, encourage cooperation in media, news publishing, radio and television, explore vocational education cooperation, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of health care, traditional medicine, and disaster prevention and mitigation.

IX. Both sides reiterate that strengthening multilateral coordination and cooperation is an inherent part of building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that is of strategic significance. Both sides will uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other basic norms of international relations, jointly maintain the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and safeguard international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries. Unwaveringly promote a multipolar world that is equal and orderly and an inclusive and beneficial economic globalization. Both sides agree to promote cooperation within the framework of major concepts and initiatives such as the Global Community with a Shared Future, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. These concepts and initiatives aim to uphold the common interests of all mankind, are dedicated to the cause of peace, justice, and progress for the people of the world, and reflect the aspirations of the people of all countries to build a better world together. Both sides advocate exchanges and cooperation on human rights issues on the basis of equality and mutual respect, resolutely oppose the politicization, instrumentalization, and double standards of human rights issues, and resolutely oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries on the pretext of human rights. Strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and APEC, and support each other in the election of international organization positions. China supports Vietnam in hosting the 2027 APEC meeting and supports Vietnam's participation in and role in various multilateral mechanisms.

Both sides agree to jointly promote open regional cooperation. China supports ASEAN in building a united, strong, and developing ASEAN Community that maintains a central position in the evolving Asia-Pacific architecture, and works with ASEAN countries to promote the initiative to build a peaceful, tranquil, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly "Five Homes," and accelerate the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version. Strengthen cooperation in various fields under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, and strive to build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future for peace and prosperity. Strengthen cooperation within the framework of Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation (GMS).

X. Both sides conducted in-depth and candid exchanges of views on maritime issues, emphasizing the need to better manage and actively resolve maritime differences and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region.

Both sides unanimously agree to abide by the consensus reached by the leaders of the two parties and countries and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Adhere to friendly consultations and actively seek mutually acceptable, long-term solutions that comply with the Agreement on Basic Principles for Guiding the Settlement of Maritime Issues between China and Vietnam, including international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and refrain from actions that complicate the situation and expand disputes. Promote early substantive progress in consultations on joint maritime development and delimitation of the waters outside the Beibu Gulf, and actively carry out cooperation in low-sensitivity maritime areas. Continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and, on the basis of consensus, reach a substantive, effective, and internationally lawful "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" that complies with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Continue to cooperate in the implementation of relevant legal documents and agreements on land borders, strengthen China-Vietnam land border cooperation, and hold commemorative events for the 25th anniversary of the delimitation of the China-Vietnam land border and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the "Three Legal Documents".

XI. During the visit, both sides signed cooperation documents in the fields of party schools, interconnectivity, industry, finance, customs inspection and quarantine, health, news agencies and media, localities, and people's livelihood.

XII. Both sides agreed that the state visit of General Secretary and President Su Lin to China was a complete success, playing an important role in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance, and is conducive to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

General Secretary and President Su Lin expressed gratitude for the warm and friendly reception provided by China and sincerely invited General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to visit Vietnam again at an early date. General Secretary and President Xi Jinping expressed gratitude and happily accepted the invitation.

August 20, 2024, Beijing