China, Vietnam join hands to consolidate bilateral relations

HANOI - President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Vietnam from Nov 5 to ember 6, with analysts saying the trip will definitely advance bilateral relations.

In recent years, China and Vietnam have witnessed more frequent exchanges of high-ranking leaders, closer economic and trade relations as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

According to observers, despite several existing issues in bilateral relations, the similarities in political systems and development paths between the two neighboring countries have help the ongoing cooperation and friendly ties and inevitability for both sides.

More frequent high-level exchanges

In 2014, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi paid two visits to Vietnam in June and October.

Le Hong Anh, special envoy of Vietnam's party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, visited China in August.

In November, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang attended the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing.

While in Beijing at the APEC meeting, the Vietnamese president met with Xi Jinping. During the meeting, Xi said both sides should make joint efforts to strengthen development momentum of bilateral relations and promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The two sides should focus on enhancing communication so as to drive the bilateral relations in the right direction, Xi said.

In December 2014, Yu Zhengsheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference paid a visit to Vietnam.

During the visit, Yu vowed to enhance high-level exchanges with Vietnam, increase mutual trust and promote bilateral ties moving in the correct direction.

The exchanges of high-level visits in 2015 have also been strengthening and intensifying.

In April 2015, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong paid a visit to China. During the visit, the two sides announced in a joint communiqué that both countries are major neighboring countries with similarities in political systems and development paths.

The development of one country can be seen as significant opportunities for the other, the statement said.

Also in April, Chinese State Councilor and Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun visited Vietnam. Later in July, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, paid a visit to the country.

During the visit, Zhang emphasized that the joint efforts by Chinese and Vietnamese parties, states and peoples in the path of adhering to the communist party leadership and socialist mechanism are of common destiny with strategic significance.

In mid-September, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited China to attend the 12th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

Earlier in September, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang attended the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing.

At the meeting with Sang, Chinese President Xi Jinping said due to the joint efforts of the two sides, the relations between China and Vietnam have developed steadily.

The two sides have reached an important consensus on strengthening the implementation of the Belt and Road and Two Corridors, One Economic Belt initiatives, as well as production capacity cooperation and contributing to creating a strong momentum for the development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.