Beijing (VNA) – That General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam chose China as his inaugural foreign visit as Vietnam’s top leader demonstrates the strategic essence of the Vietnam - China relations, Xinhua News Agency highlighted in its latest commentary posted on August 21.

The article said that intensifying strategic communication and high-level exchanges will help the two nations promote their traditional friendship, consolidate political trust in each other, deepen substantive cooperation, and promote the building of a community with a shared future extensively and practically.

China always sees Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy policy, while Vietnam considers its relations with China as an important strategic choice and leading priority in its foreign policy.

Xinhua recalled the state visit to Vietnam by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping in December last year, during which the two sides decided to build a China–Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, opening up a new chapter in the relations between the two Parties and states.

During Lam’s trip, Lam and Xi held talks and reached a consensus on enhancing the building of the community and shaping up political orientations for the development of bilateral ties in the new era.

The commentary noted that mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and China has continued to deepen. Bilateral economic and trade collaboration stayed at a high level during January-July, with the trade volume reaching 145 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of over 20%.

During Lam’s visit, many cooperation agreements were signed, covering such areas as connectivity, industry, finance, customs inspection and quarantine, health care, press and media, local cooperation, and people’s livelihoods, which fully reflects the vision of both sides to share opportunities, seek common development, and jointly promote the deepening and solidification of the Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The commentary stressed that the two countries need to build their community in line with the “six major goals”, bolster cooperation in connecting the “Belt and Road” initiative with the “Two Corridors, One Belt” framework, enhance “hard connectivity” by developing railway, highway, and infrastructure at border gates together with “soft connectivity” of smart customs clearance systems, and work together to form a safe and stable supply chain and industry.

♈ It concluded that the deepening of Vietnam - China relations serves the fundamental interests of both nations and aligns with the current global trends. As they are celebrating their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the two countries cherish their friendship and will continue deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. They plan to promote relations between the two Parties and states to a new high, to bring greater benefits to their people and positively contribute to regional and global peace, stability, and development./.