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The People’s Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have officially stepped up defence cooperation and trade ties as tensions rise in the South China Sea.
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PRC President Xi Jinping made his first state visit to Vietnam in six years earlier this month with his wife, Peng Liyuan, arriving at Noi Bai International Airport on 12 December to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reportedly met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong.
The visit appears to have been a sound success, with both countries reportedly signing more than 37 agreements covering cross-border rail development and trade, defence cooperation and an intention to conduct joint patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin and Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea.
“Yesterday, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and I jointly announced our decision to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, thus ushering in a new stage in the relations between our two parties and countries,” said the President during an address in Hanoi on 13 December.
“This is a major strategic decision we have made to revitalise world socialism and ensure long-term stability and security of our two countries.
“Today, we remain firmly committed to our shared aspiration forged in the early days and are pursuing win-win cooperation.
“Since we established the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership 15 years ago, we, the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Vietnam, have pursued people-centred mutually beneficial cooperation, delivering true benefits to our two peoples.”
The latest visit is seen as an enhancement of an already comprehensive strategic partnership, with both parties agreeing to further strengthen defence cooperation.
It’s understood that both sides agreed to promote high-level exchanges between militaries and utilise channels such as border defence-friendly exchanges, defence and security consultations and defence ministry hotlines. In addition, both countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the defence industries, joint exercises and training, military medical and health services, mutual warship visits, exchange between navies and coastguards, UN peacekeeping and non-traditional security fields.
“Looking ahead, we can see that we share the same future. Facing a world fraught with changes and turbulence, I have put forth the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and called on all countries to jointly respond to global challenges,” the President of the People’s Republic of China continued during the address.
“We are now striving to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernisation.
“What we are pursuing is not modernisation just for China itself. We will stay committed to peaceful development, the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with neighbours, and the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. And we are ready to share more of the benefits of Chinese modernisation with our neighbours.”
Late last month, Peace and Friendship-2023 joint military exercises concluded between Chinese, Cambodian, Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese forces in south China’s Guangdong Province.
The 10-day exercises focused on joint counterterrorism efforts, anti-piracy, joint air defence and safeguarding maritime security, in its highest country participation and largest scale of military forces edition to date.
