To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and president of Vietnam, arrives in Beijing on April 14, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and president of Vietnam, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a state visit to China through Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

China is the first country To Lam visits following his recent election as Vietnamese president, according to Xinhua.

After arriving in Beijing, he immediately boarded a high-speed train to visit the Xiong'an New Area, in North China's Hebei Province, Xinhua reported. 

In an signed article published in the People's Daily on Tuesday, To Lam stated that he wished to convey the sincere friendship, high respect, and top priority that the Party and State of Vietnam, and the earnest wish of the Vietnamese people to work together with the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people to continue to carry forward and promote the traditional friendship, enhance the strategic alignment between the two countries, and jointly draw up a new vision for the development of Vietnam-China relations in the new era. 

Vietnam and China are neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, sharing numerous cultural similarities, To Lam wrote in the article. The bond between the two nations has been nurtured through a long history of exchanges and has grown stronger amid the test and tempering of time, he wrote. 

In state-to-state relations between neighbors, what carries the most far-reaching significance is to view bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and with a long-term vision, cherish the valuable heritage painstakingly fostered by generations of predecessors, and place the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples front and center. This is also how Vietnam views and develops its relations with China, To Lam stated.

The year 2026 marks the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, To Lam wrote. Throughout this course, although bilateral relations have experienced fluctuations and challenges, friendship and cooperation have remained the dominant theme. Historical practice has shown that sound, long-term and stable Vietnam-China relations serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples and are also conducive to peace and development in the region, To Lam added.

Based on this important understanding, Vietnam-China relations have consistently received attention and nurturing from the two Parties and the two countries, To Lam said. 

To Lam also noted that, in response to the new requirements of the times and the new development tasks facing both countries, he believes that the two sides need to work together to focus on four key things.

First, to continue consolidating the political foundation of Vietnam-China relations and make it even more solid. Second, to promote greater transformation in practical cooperation, taking concrete outcomes as the key benchmark, To Lam wrote.

Third, to further strengthen the public support underpinning bilateral relations. Fourth, while expanding cooperation, the two sides should continue to safeguard a peaceful and stable environment, properly manage differences, and appropriately address existing issues.

"I also believe that, building on the friendly foundation carefully cultivated by the elder generations of leaders of both countries, guided by the high-level consensus already reached, and supported by the joint efforts of various levels, sectors, and localities as well as the peoples of the two countries, Vietnam-China relations will continue to develop in a stable, sound, and long-term manner. This will bring more tangible benefits to the two parties, the two countries, and the two peoples, and make greater contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and beyond," To Lam wrote.

He added that it is in this spirit and with these expectations that he is making this visit to China, and he looks forward to working together with Chinese leaders to further open up new space for the development of both countries in the period ahead and to elevate bilateral strategic alignment to a higher level.