(VOV) – The Communist Party of Vietnam’s top official has arrived in China for a visit at a time when the two countries are celebrating their 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and seeking ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s arrival in China on April 7 for a four-day trip is the highest-profile visit by a Party leader official with a view to ensuring stable relations with the nation’s major trading partner.
On the occasion, leading scholar Professor Xu Liping from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies sat down with a VOV reporter to provide insight into the significance of the visit from the perspective of Chinese scholars and an analysis of what great things he expects to emerge from it.
Following are key excerpts from the interview:
Reporter: What is your assessment of the current status of relations between Vietnam and China as they mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties?Prof. Xu Liping: Vietnam was one of the first nations that recognized the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Since formal relations were established six and one half decades ago, the relationship has always been one marked by friendship and cooperation.
Professor Xu Liping from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
In recent years, the relationship was elevated to that of a strategic partnership, which has served to solidify it. The two sides have maintained frequent high-level contacts and have made great advances in a diversity of cooperation fields.
Against the backdrop of profound changes in the global and regional arenas, I believe this visit will augment the good-neighbourliness and friendship between the nations, heighten political mutual trust and lead to expanded cooperation in line with the aspirations of the two peoples and their fundamental interests.
I am optimistic that the visit will lead to a political environment that is more conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity and create a more solid bridge between the nations for bringing tangible benefits to enterprises of the two countries and peoples.
However, disagreements must be dealt with peacefully and diplomatically. I am hopeful that the visit will result in a diplomatic breakthrough on this issue.
Reporter: What in your opinion should the two nations do to further strengthen the strategic partnership in the future?Prof. Xu Liping: The creation of the strategic partnership eight years ago was a milestone in the relationship between the two countries.
Most notably Vietnam was the first nation in Southeast Asia to establish such a relationship with China and that fact evidences the high importance China attaches to its relationship with Vietnam. In the time ahead, the two nations should continue to uplift cooperative relations by accelerating high-ranking delegation exchanges, which will lead to increased political and mutual trust. Enhanced economic cooperation and more balanced trade should be an end goal. As founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), both nations should foster more trade using renminbi or Vietnamese dongs for direct payments, which would be economically beneficial for both countries.
In particular the two sides should fortify maritime cooperation in the future. In the social field, they should speed up the exchange of youth and alumni, scholars and art troupes.
Reporter: Could you elaborate on the Party Chief’s upcoming visit to China and the importance of the visit in advancing Vietnam-China relations?Prof. Xu Liping: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit is of profound historic significance as it will enhance the friendship and restore political confidence between the nations’ leaders.
If Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese President Xi Jinping restore this confidence that will be the single most important outcome of the historic visit.
Earlier this year, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Party leader Trong and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping talked over the phone to exchange New Year wishes. This was one of those rare moments as top leaders usually don’t exchange such pleasantries.
I believe this exchange was a good omen of things to come in the Vietnam-China relations and I am confident the visit by the top Party official will realize great success.
Reporter: Thank you very much.
Đăng ký: VietNam News