To Lam's visit signifies stable growth of ties

Vietnam's top leader To Lam (second from left, front row) visits on Tuesday the comprehensive service center at the startup area of the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province. To Lam is on a state visit to China through Friday. Upon his arrival in Beijing on Tuesday morning, he took a Fuxing high-speed train to visit the Xiong'an New Area. JIN LIANGKUAI/XINHUA

Vietnam's top leader To Lam arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to kick off a state visit to China, a trip that observers said will contribute to the sound and sustainable growth of the two socialist neighbors' bilateral ties and benefit regional peace and development.

The trip underscores the strong emphasis both nations attach to the bilateral ties, as it is taking place just one week after To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, was elected as Vietnamese president on April 7 at the first session of the 16th National Assembly, Vietnam's top legislature.

On the first leg of his four-day visit, the Vietnamese leader traveled by high-speed train to the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province, to learn about the development of the project with national significance, which has been dubbed China's "City of the Future".

To Lam met with Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, in Beijing on Tuesday.

In a signed article published in People's Daily on Tuesday, To Lam wrote that he wishes to use the visit to continue to inherit and promote the traditional friendship between the two parties, countries and peoples, elevate strategic connectivity, and jointly shape new visions for the development of Vietnam-China relations in the new era. Historical practice shows that strong and stable relations between the two countries align with the practical interests of both peoples and contribute positively to peace and development in the region, he added.

He wrote that both sides should continue to safeguard a peaceful and stable environment, effectively manage differences and properly address outstanding issues while expanding cooperation.

The visit comes as China-Vietnam relations continue to develop positively, with expanding cooperation in multiple fields. Recent milestones include a high-level phone call between the two top leaders in January, the 17th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in March, and the inaugural ministerial meeting of the China-Vietnam "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security in March.

Bilateral trade reached a record high of more than $290 billion in 2025. China remains Vietnam's largest trading partner, while Vietnam has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the fourth-largest in the world, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Analysts said that To Lam's visit clearly conveys the continuity of Vietnam's policy of prioritizing ties with China in the country's diplomacy.

In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency, Pham Thanh Binh, Vietnamese ambassador to China, described the trip as the most significant bilateral diplomatic event between the two parties and countries in 2026. He expressed confidence that Vietnam-China cooperation still holds vast potential, driven by complementary development strategies, especially as Vietnam has begun to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and China is deploying the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

Priority should be given to strengthening economic ties, effectively leveraging free trade agreements, expanding market access for Vietnamese agricultural products, promoting more balanced trade and attracting high-quality investment, he said.

Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said that both countries are at a crucial stage in building socialism, building on past achievements and looking ahead.

Ding Duo, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that amid current global geopolitical tensions, To Lam's China visit sends a signal that Vietnam's new leadership is unwilling to be swayed by external interference and remains resolutely committed to safeguarding bilateral relations.

As part of efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, 200 youths from Vietnam have joined an eight-day "Red Study Tours" initiative starting on Saturday, with activities held in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, and Beijing.