During the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam congratulated Guangxi on its development achievements; expressing confidence that Guangxi will become a prosperous, beautiful, and modern socialist autonomous region.

The General Secretary and President expressed deep appreciation that Guangxi was once the “great rear area” in Vietnam’s struggle for national independence, the place where, 85 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh returned to Cao Bang to directly lead the Vietnamese revolution; hoping that Guangxi will continue to promote friendship, leverage its geographical proximity, and play a leading role in creating breakthroughs in strategic connectivity in cooperation with Vietnamese localities.

Secretary of Guangxi Chen Gang expressed his delight and honor in welcoming General Secretary and President To Lam to Guangxi during his state visit to China. Emphasizing that Vietnam is a close neighbor, a dear friend, and a top partner for Guangxi, Comrade Chen Gang affirmed that the Party Committee and government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region attach special importance to friendly relations and cooperation with Vietnamese localities; they will continue to take the lead in comprehensively and effectively implementing the important common perceptions of the two General Secretaries and Presidents, contributing to deepening exchange and cooperation and strengthening the friendly sentiments between China and Vietnam.

Both sides were pleased to review the positive progress in exchanges and cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities and Guangxi in recent times, especially the regular exchanges and contacts at various levels, and the promotion of economic, trade, and scientific-technological cooperation. Vietnam has been Guangxi’s largest trading partner for 27 consecutive years.

Regarding future cooperation, it was proposed that Guangxi and Vietnamese localities create breakthroughs in five strategic connections: development policies, economy-trade, logistics infrastructure, science, technology, and social foundations.

Accordingly, the General Secretary and President expressed hope that Guangxi will effectively implement the Spring Meeting program between Provincial/City/Regional Party Committee Secretaries, and between border provinces/cities, expanding cooperation with other localities in Vietnam.

The two sides shared experiences on development policies and local planning; strengthening exchanges, promoting deeper and broader economic linkages, especially in trade and infrastructure, ensuring smooth customs clearance; linking bilateral trade with infrastructure connectivity, logistics connectivity, supply chain connectivity, and market connectivity; accelerating multimodal rail, road, and sea connections; giving the highest priority to railway cooperation, including the standard-gauge railway lines Lang Son-Hanoi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong.

Regarding science-technology connectivity, General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that both sides enhance cooperation in artificial intelligence application, implementing projects in Vietnam for green agriculture, clean energy, renewable energy, and high-tech processing. The General Secretary and President also hoped that both sides would cooperate closely, manage the land border well, promptly resolve existing and arising issues; create favorable conditions for people-to-people exchanges, fully exploit tourism potential, contributing to the overall success of the Vietnam-China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026-2027.

Expressing strong agreement with the important guiding opinions of General Secretary and President To Lam, Secretary Chen Gang affirmed that Guangxi will have specific action programs to implement the common perceptions of the two General Secretaries and Presidents; hoping that both sides would further promote substantive cooperation in various fields, infrastructure connectivity, especially railways, and cooperate with Vietnam in high-tech fields that Guangxi is focusing on developing, such as AI and big data.

Emphasizing that Vietnam’s high-quality agricultural products are always favored by Guangxi consumers, Secretary Chen Gang affirmed that Guangxi is ready to promote the import of more agricultural products, not only to meet the needs of the Guangxi market but also to reach other parts of China through Guangxi. Secretary Chen Gang also proposed that both sides accelerate the construction of smart border gate pilot projects, facilitating goods trade; strengthening friendly exchanges and mutual understanding between the people and localities of Vietnam.

Guangxi

Guangxi is an autonomous region in southern China known for its stunning karst landscapes, most famously around the city of Guilin. Historically, it has been home to various ethnic groups, notably the Zhuang people, and was a significant corridor for trade and cultural exchange along the West River. Its history includes being part of ancient Lingnan culture and, in the modern era, the site of the Taiping Rebellion’s beginnings in the 19th century.

Cao Bang

Cao Bang is a mountainous province in northern Vietnam, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes like Ban Gioc Waterfall and the UNESCO-recognized Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark. Historically, it is most famous as a key revolutionary base for Vietnam’s independence movement, serving as the headquarters for Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh in the early 1940s before the August Revolution. The area is also home to several ethnic minority groups, whose traditions contribute to its rich cultural tapestry.

Lang Son-Hanoi railway

The Lang Son-Hanoi railway is a crucial northern Vietnamese rail line, historically part of the colonial-era Kunming-Hai Phong railway built by the French in the early 20th century. It serves as a vital economic and transportation link between the capital region and the Chinese border at Lang Son, facilitating trade and connectivity. The line has also held significant strategic military importance throughout various conflicts in Vietnam’s history.

Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong railway

The Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong railway is a planned railway line in northern Vietnam, intended to connect the border city of Mong Cai with the major port of Hai Phong via the tourist hub of Ha Long Bay. While not yet constructed, it is a key part of Vietnam’s national railway development strategy to boost regional trade, tourism, and economic integration with China through the Mong Cai border gate. Its history is thus one of future-oriented infrastructure planning rather than a completed past.

Vietnam-China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026-2027

The “Vietnam-China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026-2027” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a bilateral tourism promotion initiative. It is a planned series of joint events and marketing campaigns between the two nations, building on a history of similar cooperation years held since the early 2000s to boost mutual travel and cultural exchange. The program aims to highlight each country’s destinations and heritage to tourists from the other.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, located in southern China, is renowned for its dramatic karst landscape, exemplified by the Li River and the city of Guilin. Established as an autonomous region in 1958, it is the primary home of the Zhuang ethnic group, China’s largest ethnic minority. Its history is deeply connected to the Lingnan culture and was a crucial part of the ancient maritime Silk Road via its port at Beihai.

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh is a major city in southern Vietnam, originally named Saigon before being renamed in 1976 after the revolutionary leader Hồ Chí Minh. Its history spans from a Khmer settlement to the capital of French Indochina and later the capital of South Vietnam, playing a central role during the Vietnam War. Today, it is Vietnam’s largest economic hub, known for its dynamic energy, French colonial architecture, and war history museums.

Spring Meeting program

The “Spring Meeting” program is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a common name for seasonal festivals or events, particularly in East Asia. Historically, such spring gatherings often have roots in agricultural traditions celebrating the planting season or in literary gatherings inspired by the renewal of nature. Without a specific location, it generally refers to cultural activities marking the arrival of spring.