The upcoming official visit to Vietnam by Chinese Premier Li Qiang reflects the positive and constructive exchanges and interactions between high-ranking leaders of the two countries, a Chinese scholar has said.
In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the thresholds of the Chinese leader’s trip, Dr. Cheng Hanping, Director of the Vietnam Research Centre at the Zhejiang University of Technology, said the visit could be an opportunity for the Chinese leader to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam through direct interactions.
Since taking office, this will be the first time Li visits Vietnam, clearly demonstrating the significance, mission, and symbolic value of the visit, the expert stressed.
In the context of the increasingly complex situation, the two countries need to work together to address threats and instabilities, while also building a community with a shared future community that carries strategic significance, Cheng noted.
He highlighted the importance of the trip, saying that interactions between Chinese and Vietnamese high-ranking leaders within Li’s visit are expected to further promote mutual strategic trust and strengthen the foundation for cooperation between the two sides.
Li has held important positions in several development regions of China, such as Jiangsu and Shanghai, and has extensive experience in economic development, so these experiences can be shared with Vietnamese counterparts, thus further boosting comprehensive cooperation between the two sides in economics and trade areas, the scholar said.
He stressed that this visit can set a crucial direction for China-Vietnam relations, not only enhancing exchanges and cooperation at all levels, especially in upgrading the quality and connectivity of economic and trade areas, but also playing a key role in promoting tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, lifting these areas of cooperation to new heights.
According to Cheng, there remains ample room for the two countries to step up cooperation in the coming time.
The two sides are collaborating on building railways in Vietnam in the time to come. In addition to technical and financial advantages, China also possesses experience and a skilled workforce.
Regarding party-building cooperation, the two side have expanded their ties in this area across various sectors, with the fundamental aim of sharing experiences and enhancing governance capacity.
In terms of economic, trade, and investment cooperation, China recently successfully organised the 21st China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), facilitating Vietnamese products’ penetration into the Chinese market. With a population of 1.4 billion and its geographical proximity to Vietnam, China has potential to become an unlimited consumer market for Vietnamese products.
For cultural exchange, the Chinese scholar said the Vietnam Research Centre at the Zhejiang University of Technology is developing a plan for exchange and cooperation with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences in 2025, thus contributing to promoting friendship and mutual trust, and upholding the role of scholars in fostering the China-Vietnam relations.
