Neighbors strengthen ties rather than cut them: China Daily editorial

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is in China on a four-day formal visit, during which he will attend the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin.

In their meeting on Monday in Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Qiang pointed out that amid the complex and volatile world situation China and Vietnam can inject more stability and positive energy into world peace and the development of the two countries by working together to take their relations to a new level.

Pham's positive responses to the series of proposals Li made to upgrade and expand bilateral cooperation in trade, security, energy, regional development and culture show Vietnam's willingness to share China's development dividends, tap the potential of their complementary economies and seek regional integration.

Prime Minister Pham's visit is important for both countries in multiple ways. It is not only Pham's first China trip as Vietnamese prime minister, but the first by a Vietnamese prime minister in seven years. It occurs as the two countries commemorate the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership, and as an increasing number of non-regional countries are bolstering their presence in the region seeking to sow the seeds of discord.

But Pham's remarks will upset those awaiting a breakup between Hanoi and Beijing. To their disappointment, Pham's trip has nothing to do with the kind of geopolitical game outsiders want, but everything to do with strengthening ties.

The openness the Vietnamese prime minister expressed to strengthening exchanges and coordination to properly handle the disputes between the two sides was highly welcomed by Li. No matter how hard third parties work to exploit the maritime disputes between the two neighbors in an attempt to turn them against each other, Beijing and Hanoi are shelving their differences to pursue the greater good of peace and cooperation.

As both sides have pointed out in relation to Pham's visit, each side considers relations with the other to be a diplomatic priority. This is not only a natural product of the two countries' historical friendship and their long-standing mutually beneficial exchanges in the process of regional economic integration. It is also the result of a forward-looking strategic choice by them.

During Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's China visit in 2022, the two countries signed the "Joint Statement on Further Consolidating and Deepening the China-Vietnam All-round Partnership of Strategic Cooperation".

Prime Minister Pham's participation in the Tianjin event is meant, to a great extent, to attract more foreign direct investment to Vietnam. Chinese enterprises are already showing they are happy to oblige. Vietnam is China's largest trading partner among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Chinese direct investment in Vietnam has kept increasing in recent years, becoming the fourth largest last year.

Those trying to drive a wedge between the two countries are betting on a losing hand.