General Secretary and President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from 14-17/4. This is the most important bilateral foreign affairs activity between the two Parties and two countries in 2026, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh stated today in an interview with TTXVN.

This visit marks General Secretary and President To Lam's first overseas trip since Vietnam consolidated its state leadership positions at the first session of the 16th National Assembly. It is also his first visit to China since the 14th National Congress.

"The visit is expected to create further momentum, open new cooperation opportunities, and ensure the relations between the two Parties and two countries continue to develop stably, healthily, and sustainably," Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh. Photo: TTXVN

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh. Photo: TTXVN

The ambassador noted that General Secretary and President To Lam will hold important talks with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping during the visit. He is also scheduled to meet with other senior Chinese leaders.

General Secretary and President To Lam will deliver a policy speech at Tsinghua University. He will also meet with relatives of friendship advocates from both countries, and attend or announce the launch of several people-to-people exchange programs, including cultural, artistic, and tourism cooperation initiatives.

General Secretary and President To Lam is scheduled to conduct surveys and study pilot models of new urban areas, railway infrastructure and industry systems, and artificial intelligence research and application facilities, along with innovation centers in Beijing, Hebei, and Guangxi.

Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh emphasized that these practical surveys will help promote specific cooperation among ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses of the two countries. This will gradually translate high-level common understandings and signed agreements into concrete projects and cooperation programs.

China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on 18/1/1950. The two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2023, promoting the building of a community of shared future with strategic significance.

Ambassador Binh stated that substantive cooperation between the two countries has continued to be a bright spot. Trade, investment, and tourism between the two nations have maintained double-digit growth.

China is Vietnam's largest trade partner, while Vietnam is China's fourth largest trade partner globally. Bilateral trade turnover exceeded 256 billion USD, a 24,8% increase. This positive growth continued in the first two months of 2026, reaching nearly 43 billion USD, a 36,9% increase.

Regarding investment, in 2025, China was the second largest investor in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 5,96 billion USD, a 33,4% increase, leading in the number of new projects. In the first two months of 2026, investment remained high, reaching 807,5 million USD.

In tourism, China was Vietnam's largest source market for tourists in 2025, with 5,28 million visitors, a 41% increase. In the first two months of 2026, this number exceeded 920,000 visitors.

The two sides are collaborating to soon complete the feasibility report for the Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong railway line, aiming for comprehensive groundbreaking in 2026. They are also actively developing master plans for the Lang Son - Ha Noi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong routes. Additionally, both countries are enhancing connectivity in digital infrastructure, transport infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, and logistics.

The two countries are also implementing artificial intelligence application projects between localities, inaugurating a joint innovation center in Vietnam, and undertaking numerous clean energy, digital infrastructure, and information technology projects.

Ngoc Anh