Building a shared future on the China-Vietnam border

Editor's note: Zhou Wenxing, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at the School of International Studies (SIS) and assistant dean of Huazhi Institute for Global Governance, Nanjing University. He writes extensively on comparative politics and international relations, with an emphasis on the Taiwan question and China-US relations. Li Nina is a research assistant at SIS. The article reflects the authors' opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Discussions of China-Vietnam relations often focus on geopolitics, regional competition and strategic calculations. Yet along the border between the two countries, another story is unfolding every day – one defined by cooperation, trust and shared development.

Jinping, a county in China's southwestern Yunnan Province facing Vietnam's Lai Chau Province, offers a vivid view of this reality. It is not simply a frontier county. It is a shared living space where people cross the border to trade, work, visit relatives, celebrate festivals and resolve practical problems together.

These ordinary interactions give concrete meaning to the vision of building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries, a key component of the broader vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. They provide a practical pathway for China and its neighbors to pursue consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Cooperation rooted in daily life

Along the China-Vietnam border, bilateral relations are often manifested in practical issues such as the maintenance of river embankments, boundary markers, roads and fences. Such projects require joint inspections, technical consultation, written agreements, approval procedures and on-site supervision. Even minor disagreements must be handled with care as they may affect communities on both sides of the border.

Therefore, over the years, Jinping and neighboring Vietnamese localities have established multiple communication channels. Before Vietnam's recent administrative adjustments, the two sides held regular meetings to review cooperation, discuss future priorities and sign official records. Border management, customs, transport and inspection departments also maintained professional exchanges. These mechanisms created a stable foundation for resolving problems through dialogue.

Local experience suggests that trust grows through sustained interaction. Officials interviewed said even minor technical differences could lead to prolonged deadlocks once. Over time, however, more frequent exchanges have fostered mutual understanding, reduced mistrust and made it easier to find common ground.

This combination of formal rules and personal trust is central to effective border governance. Agreements provide clarity, while long-term relationships improve communication. Together, they help transform potential friction into practical cooperation.

Markets and villages bring people closer

The weekly market near Jinping's Jinshuihe Port is one of the clearest examples of a shared border community.

Many Vietnamese traders enter China before market day, stay overnight and sell goods the next morning. Since people on both sides often belong to related ethnic groups, communication is rarely a major obstacle. They may use local languages, basic Chinese or simple gestures. Chinese and Vietnamese traders operate under the same market rules, while the renminbi is widely used for settlement.

Although these exchanges may appear modest in scale, they matter greatly to local families. Cross-border trade supports livelihoods, broadens access to markets and strengthens economic interdependence. Over time, continued transactions also create familiarity, mutual trust and stable expectations.

“Friendship villages” play a similar role. Jinping has established partnerships with villages across the border, and representatives regularly visit one another. Residents take part in festivals, tourism events, cultural performances, sports and ethnic costume shows. These exchanges preserve longstanding cultural ties and deepen mutual understanding.

They also support local governance. When residents and officials know one another well, disputes involving infrastructure, land use or border facilities are less likely to be misunderstood or politicized. Cultural exchange therefore provides an important social foundation for practical cooperation.

The Jinping experience demonstrates the value of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Consultation means that neither side acts unilaterally on issues affecting the border. Problems are discussed face to face, technical details are clarified and solutions reached through negotiation.

Joint contribution means both sides take responsibility for maintaining stability and improving local conditions. Whether repairing embankments, conducting joint patrols or organizing village exchanges, progress depends on cooperation.

Shared benefits are visible in the daily lives of border residents. Efficient customs clearance helps traders and workers. Stable markets support household incomes. Safe infrastructure protects communities on both sides. Cultural exchanges build mutual trust and create a favorable environment for long-term cooperation.

This is why the concept of a neighborhood community with a shared future has strong practical significance. Geography makes countries neighbors, but lasting friendship requires institutions, trust and a willingness to turn common interests into concrete action.

From local practice to a broader vision

The Jinping case shows how a neighborhood community with a shared future contributes to the wider vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. This vision emphasizes partnership over confrontation, dialogue over zero-sum competition and common development over exclusive advantage. Along the border, these principles are not merely concepts; they are translated into tangible results that benefit people on both sides.

A jointly repaired riverbank reflects respect for shared interests. A busy weekly market demonstrates how connectivity can create mutual prosperity. A village exchange shows how cultural bonds can strengthen trust. A disagreement resolved through consultation proves that differences can be managed without escalation.

Challenges remain, including difficult terrain, uneven infrastructure and changes in administrative coordination. These make continued investment in transport, border governance and professional foreign-affairs capacity even more important.

Yet the overall direction is clear. China and Vietnam have strong incentives to deepen cooperation at both national and local levels. Border communities already show that peaceful coexistence and common development are not distant ideals, but realities created through daily practice.

Along the China-Vietnam border, a community with a shared future is being built through open markets, friendly villages, practical dialogue and mutual assistance. It offers a persuasive example of how neighboring countries can work together for peace, development and shared prosperity.

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