President Xi urges China, Vietnam to boost connectivity, cooperation in new quality productive forces

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Vietnam to step up connectivity, jointly build a frontier platform for new quality productive forces cooperation, and build stable and smooth cross-border industrial and supply chains.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his phone talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee. 

During the call, Xi mentioned Lam's state visit to China last August, recalling their in-depth exchanges on deepening the relations between the two parties and the two countries and reaching broader consensus. Over the past six months, positive progress has been made, Xi said. 

The year 2025 marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period and a key year for the preparation of the 14th National Congress of the CPV, Xi said, noting it is a year of great significance for both countries that serves as both a point of continuity and a new starting point.

The two sides should continue to rejuvenate and strengthen the two parties, deepen exchanges of socialist theory and practical experience, and promote the development of the socialist cause amid great changes unseen in a century, said Xi.

It is necessary to fully leverage the political guidance of high-level exchanges and continue to maintain close exchanges, Xi said, adding the two countries should push for more results in mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two sides should carry out warm and down to earth people-to-people and cultural exchanges that connect people's hearts, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as media, culture and tourism, as well as between the youths of the two nations and at the sub-national level, creating more projects that win the hearts of the people, Xi said.

The two countries should also strengthen international and regional coordination, safeguard international fairness and justice, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

Xi pointed out that since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, it has united and led all the Vietnamese people to overcome various difficulties and challenges and make new achievements in the cause of socialist construction and renovation.

It is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by Comrade To Lam, the party, the state and the people of Vietnam will focus on ensuring the 14th National Congress a success, and firmly advance toward Vietnam's two centennial goals, Xi said. 

For his part, Lam first expressed sincere condolences to China for the serious loss of life and property caused by the earthquake in Xizang, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China will overcome the damage caused by the earthquake as soon as possible.

Vietnam sincerely admires the great development achievements made by the CPC and the people and believes that China will give full play to its advantages, such as economic scale and development of new quality productivity, to continuously achieve greater development achievements, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)