- by William Briggs
- The Guardian
- Issue #2114
Vietnam’s new President and General-Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Tô Lâm has just concluded his first state visit to China. The meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping are particularly significant in the light of heightened tensions in the region. While many heads of state visit Beijing, this meeting of the presidents and party leaders from two socialist states has a special importance.
China was a deliberate choice for Lâm’s first visit as leader. Xi Jinping made the comment that this decision reflected the importance Lâm attaches to relations between the two parties and countries. Xi said that “China and Vietnam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system and the vitality of the socialist cause.”
Tô Lâm emphasised that his choice of China as his first foreign visit demonstrated that the CPV and Vietnamese government regard China as a strategic choice and assured the Chinese leader that China is the top priority for Vietnam’s foreign policy.
The Western media make much of any supposed or imagined tensions between the two countries. There are sometimes issues that the Western press seize upon, where differences can be perceived, but Lâm assured his host and the world, that Vietnam fully supports the ‘one-China’ policy, opposes any secessionist actions in Taiwan, and rejects any interference in China’s internal affairs. The US has long courted Vietnam, along with other Asian states, in order to isolate China. Socialist Vietnam’s act of solidarity with China is an important one.
There was a strong sense of a political unity and solidarity between the two nations. Both states exist in an economic world dominated by capitalism, and these issues were also prominent in the talks.
While it might not have been an official slogan for the visit, ‘cooperation’ is the best word to describe what was unfolding. This cooperation is evident in the areas of planning between China and Vietnam for the immediate and longer-term future. There were agreements to strengthen cooperation in diplomacy, defence, and public security. Belt and Road initiatives were also prominent.
Railway connections between the two countries are to be further developed. China has agreed to provide ‘non-refundable’ assistance. Cross-border economic cooperation is being streamlined. Technology transfers and investments are being facilitated to the mutual benefit of both states.
Good news stories don’t get much airplay in our mainstream media, and the new developments between the two socialist states is hardly an exception. It is not in the interest of our press to report that documents of cooperation have been signed relating to Party schools, industry, transport connectivity, finance, plant quarantine, health care, media and broadcasting.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported that the visit was especially significant as it supported “Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification, which includes a policy of considering relations with China a top priority.” The VNA added that agreements reached between the two countries will contribute to “a peaceful and stable environment, offering more favourable conditions for pushing socio-economic development, elevating the country’s position and prestige, and successfully implementing the targets set by the 13th National Party Congress.”
China likes to say that foreign policy should be conducted in a win-win manner. This has been shown in the state visit by Tô Lâm and his delegation to China. It is also a win-win for the strengthening of socialist cooperation.
