People at the core: 75 years on, forging a shared future for China-Vietnam ties
On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held phone talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, To Lam. The two leaders jointly announced the official launch of the China-Vietnam Year of people-to-people exchanges.
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| General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse at the official welcoming ceremony on August 19, 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
For anyone who has grown up in a part of the world where national boundaries are close at hand, dynamics of neighboring countries often spark fascination. Sometimes there are disagreements and misunderstandings, but responsible neighbors find ways to move forward together.
Interactions between China and Vietnam have become ever more comprehensive, spanning nearly every sector of society and deepening mutual understanding on key issues of common concern. This momentum extends beyond official and governmental levels to include more and more ordinary people. The connectivity of minds is as vital as the infrastructure and political decisions that bind nations.
Leadership and shared vision
Leadership from the top often sets the tone for bilateral relations. During their recent meeting, Xi Jinping and To Lam stated that China and Vietnam should continue to uphold each other’s core interests, broaden cooperation, and deepen ties between ruling parties and governments. While such messages are common in high-profile meetings, their significance lies in their role in framing actionable policies for the years ahead.
Leaders’ strategic vision builds on a long history of cooperation, underscoring the forward-looking nature of China-Vietnam relations. While official statements and documents are important, they resonate most when they translate into the daily lives of citizens.
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| Pan Deng, the CGTN Anchor. |
From tangible outcomes to the voices of people, it’s fair to say that this vision resonates among ordinary people in both China and Vietnam, who desire steady trade growth, cross-cultural exploration, and a peaceful environment for their families to thrive. Farmers who supply produce across the border, tech developers who collaborate online, or students hoping to study in each other’s universities - all these everyday actors have a stake in ensuring the bigger political relationship remains on good terms. Over the years, China and Vietnam have adapted to global shifts and have reaped mutual benefits from practical cooperation. Given the scope of contemporary challenges - geopolitical, economic, environmental, or health-related - it makes sense for neighbors to maintain close ties.
The importance of people-to-people exchanges
Time and again, real diplomatic strength rests not just on trade agreements or official visits, but on the everyday links formed by citizens. Cultural festivals, sister-city programs, student exchanges, and tourism highlight the human dimension of bilateral ties, fostering trust and laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation.
Sister-city initiatives between certain cities and regions in China and Vietnam have led to pragmatic outcomes: improving agricultural productivity, promoting environment-friendly practices and setting up local trade fairs that introduce new goods and services to curious consumers. This momentum has been growing. In China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region alone, 21 cities have established friendly bonds with Vietnamese counterparts.
Education is another key area of collaboration. Universities in China have welcomed many Vietnamese students. In turn, Chinese youths are exploring Vietnam’s fast-evolving economy for academic and entrepreneurial opportunities. These experiences sometimes cultivate personal bonds that last beyond graduation—connections that make broader political ties more resilient.
Recognizing the power of such connections, China and Vietnam underscored a pledge to widen access to scholarships, collaborative research projects, and cultural initiatives.
Cultural Diplomacy and Tourism
Cultural diplomacy extends the idea of people’s goodwill into public showcases of heritage, arts and traditions. Over the years, China has hosted Vietnamese cultural weeks in major cities, featuring performances of folk music, water puppetry, and a taste of Vietnam’s renowned cuisine. Vietnam has opened its doors to Chinese cultural festivals, including exhibits on Chinese calligraphy, martial arts and folk dances.
Through these events, attendees could find themselves discovering similarities between folk traditions or shared values that connect the two cultures. Tourism, too, plays a significant role. In recent years, more Chinese have been rediscovering the charm of Vietnam’s landscapes, food, and hospitality, while Vietnamese travelers have sought out the diverse attractions of China’s vast provinces.
Through these journeys, people gain first-hand exposure to their neighbor’s reality—an experience that dispels hearsay and fosters genuine understanding. When families, students, or travelers return home with memorable stories and newfound respect for each other’s societies, bilateral ties gain an intangible strength that cannot be easily eroded.
These interactions illustrate how an official handshake at a summit can translate into earnest, meaningful connections on the ground. People who participate in such exchanges could become enthusiastic ambassadors of goodwill, sharing personal stories that can outlast ephemeral media headlines.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Li Qiang witnessed Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Binh and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister of China Ma Zhaoxu exchanging diplomatic notes on the establishment of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing (China), 7 November 2024. (Source: VNA) |
The digital era and people-to-people connections
In today’s world, digital technology has changed how neighboring countries communicate. There was a time when accessing news about each other meant relying on newspapers, radio, or the occasional television broadcast. Now, a smartphone is all it takes to watch a livestream or follow social media influencers across the border. Vietnamese pop music can attract fans in Guangxi and Yunnan regions, while Chinese TV dramas find keen viewers in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Through social media, university exchange students can hold virtual discussion groups; while aspiring entrepreneurs can share tips on starting cross-border businesses. The two countries have also reached consensus on the role of media and e-commerce in deepening ties. These digital connections may appear small, but they help break down stereotypes, giving people a first-hand view of each other’s lifestyles, fashion, art, and even humor.
Economic and trade cooperation
No discussion of China-Vietnam relations is complete without addressing economics. In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as one of China’s most dynamic trading partners in Southeast Asia, while China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Cross-border trade has soared, creating jobs and business opportunities on both sides. As of 2024, trade between the two sides has exceeded 200 billion US dollars for three consecutive years.
Still, behind those big numbers are entrepreneurs, truck drivers, factory workers, and service personnel whose fates are tied to bilateral cooperation. A sustainable partnership must ensure that growth translates into tangible benefits for ordinary people. China and Vietnam are now stressing “balanced and sustainable” economic collaboration—a key reminder that commerce thrives best where there is trust, fairness, and a drive to lift living standards on both sides.
The role of the public in the future of ties
International conditions remain fluid, and new technologies continue to reshape how societies interact. If China and Vietnam remain committed to collaboration—sharing knowledge, respecting each other’s interests, and uplifting cultural ties—they will strengthen their positions and remain an example of how neighbors can work toward common goals.
In particular, the future seems bright for deeper educational and professional exchanges, especially as more young people seek opportunities across borders. Expanding scholarships, pursuing research together, and staging shared cultural events can ensure that both sides understand each other’s perspectives from early on.
Media coverage matters, too. Newspapers, journals, television shows, and online platforms can highlight success stories that encourage others to join in. While sensational news about conflicts sometimes dominates headlines, positive examples of teamwork or cultural discovery can inspire younger generations to keep an open mind. In that spirit, the stories of entrepreneurs, volunteers, and students bridging the gap between China and Vietnam deserve more spotlight.
If the two countries carry on supporting each other’s modernization, respecting differences, and building trust at the grassroots level, they can remain a stabilizing force in the region. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly expressed the idea of creating a “community with a shared future,” an approach that encourages countries to see themselves as partners who benefit from mutual well-being. That broad idea resonates strongly in the China-Vietnam context, given their entwined histories, cultural similarities, and economic complementarities.
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| Art exchange program between artists from Vietnam and China at Yunnan Provincial Theater, China, November 5, 2024. (Source: toquoc.vn) |
Conclusion
Looking back on 75 years of diplomatic ties, it is clear that the journey of China-Vietnam relations includes chapters of challenge and success—but above all, resilience. Two nations, shaped by revolutions and rapid modernization, have managed to overcome historical rifts and continually return to dialogue and cooperation.
Recent high-level exchanges between China and Vietnam have highlighted the continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Yet, as leaders have emphasized, the real heart of this friendship lies in the ordinary people who study, trade, innovate, and travel across the border. It is in their everyday experiences that the words “neighbor,” “friend,” and “partner” take on the most meaning.
Yes, leaders may sign declarations, and headlines may celebrate milestones. But each time a traveler brings home kind impressions, or a student wraps up an enriching semester abroad, the foundation of China-Vietnamese friendship grows stronger. If both sides keep investing in true cooperation and shared benefits—remaining faithful to the vision of genuine neighborly goodwill—there is every reason to expect that China and Vietnam will enjoy many more decades of productive, peaceful ties in a community of shared future.
