The Chinese side stands ready to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by top leaders of both parties and countries, deepen practical cooperation with the Vietnamese side in various areas including maritime security, enhance strategic mutual trust between both militaries, promote constant development of bilateral relations and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said when meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam in Hanoi on Thursday.
China also cherishes the traditional friendship between the two parties, the two countries and the two militaries, according to China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday.
Lam welcomed Dong's participation in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, saying that Vietnam and China are socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Lam said Vietnam cherishes China's valuable support in the cause of national liberation, national independence and socialist construction in Vietnam, and takes developing friendly relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy.
Lam expressed the hope that the two militaries will strengthen practical cooperation and inject new vitality to the development of bilateral relations, as reported by Xinhua.
Dong noted that China and Vietnam have entered a new era of building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
On Friday, Dong and his delegation attended a grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, according to the report.
Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards have made positive comments on the cooperation achievement in 2024, discussed and determined the future cooperation direction and specific projects, and fully exchanged views on topics of common interest during the eighth high-level work meeting between the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard in Hanoi, Vietnam from December 16-21, according to China Military Online.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to deepen bilateral maritime law enforcement cooperation, jointly crack down on illegal and criminal activities, properly handle emergencies, maintain security and stability, and work together to set a model for regional maritime law enforcement cooperation.
A source familiar with the matter told the Global Times on Sunday that the two sides also agreed to enhance information exchange in combating maritime drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal immigration, and other criminal activities, and regularly carry out synchronized law enforcement actions in the Beibu Gulf region.
In addition, both sides vowed to strengthen mutual support in multilateral circumstances, releasing the model effect of China-Vietnam maritime law enforcement cooperation in the South China Sea, according to the source.
Since the beginning of 2024, coast guards of the two countries have carried out exchanges at various levels and in different fields, maintained monthly updates on information about illegal fishing vessels, and exchanged letters at key points, effectively establishing China-Vietnam maritime law enforcement cooperation as a model for regional maritime law enforcement, the source revealed.
The two sides have agreed to make good use of the secondary contact window to enhance communication and coordination on issues such as the notification of illegal fishing vessels in the Beibu Gulf, drafting and implementing joint patrol plans, and initial response to maritime emergencies. They also plan to hold sea (sub)regional-level talks in 2025, the source told the Global Times.
Among the gifts exchanged by the Vietnamese side was a Vietnamese bronze drum, and among the gifts Chins gave in return was a Chinese knot, both representing traditional cultures, Global Times learned from the source.
Despite some differences between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea, both sides have managed to effectively control these differences in order to safeguard their shared interests. As a result, they have not allowed these conflicts to escalate. China-Vietnam exchanges and cooperation have become a model in this regard, Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
In a notable contrast, the Philippines has chosen otherwise and not cooperated with China to jointly maintain maritime security in the South China Sea. Instead, Manila has sought to involve external forces, particularly the US, especially around Huangyan Dao, which has contributed to tensions in the region and to a setback in China-Philippines relations, Gu said.
According to China Military Online, after the work meeting, the CCG delegation visited the Fisheries Supervision Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for talks. Both sides reviewed and evaluated the use of the emergency hotline, and had in-depth exchanges on issues such as establishing institutional cooperation and handling maritime fishery emergencies.
All participating delegations were invited to pay a courtesy call to the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and visit the second Vietnam International Defense Exhibition. The CCG delegation also visited and paid tribute to Chinese martyrs of the Vietnam War at a cemetery in Gia Lam, Hanoi.
The delegation of the CCG also attended the second "Vietnam Coast Guard and Friends" exchange activity, and held talks with the Cambodian National Committee of Maritime Security, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Indonesian Coast Guard, and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center. They held in-depth discussions on addressing non-traditional security issues in the maritime domain, handling maritime emergencies, and exchanged views on such topics of concern as establishing a cooperation mechanism, managing differences, enhancing mutual trust and jointly promoting security and stability in the South China Sea.
China and most Southeast Asian countries hope to effectively manage differences on the South China Sea issue. They aim to prevent these differences from escalating and affecting the peace and stability of the South China Sea and the surrounding region. This reflects the consensus reached between China and ASEAN on this matter, Gu noted.
How does development promote progress in human rights? Over the past two weeks, commissioners and experts from the Global South and the United Nations sought answers through discussions, site visits and dialogue meetings in Beijing and East China's Zhejiang Province.
The Hernán Santa Cruz Dialogue on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) brought together ministerial and department-level officials from nearly 50 countries and regional organizations, including the Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania and Yemen, as well as UN experts and officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Participants from abroad engaged in discussions on economic, social and cultural rights in Beijing, before they toured several locations in Zhejiang.
The event was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"It is important to adhere to a people-centered approach, step up efforts on the ESCR and focus on addressing uneven development. It is also important to strengthen solidarity and coordination, and increase the support to developing countries from developed countries to make sure that no one is left behind," Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, noted in a written address at the opening ceremony of the dialogue, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Comprehensive development
The three-and-a-half-day trip to Zhejiang left a profound impression on the visiting participants.
Located in East China's coastal region, Zhejiang is one of the most economically developed provinces in China, renowned for its advanced manufacturing and commodity trade. In 2023, the province's GDP totaled 8.26 trillion yuan ($1.13 trillion), with a per capita GDP of 125,043 yuan, according to a report released by Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Statistics in September 2024.
Zhejiang has also been a pioneer of China's reform and opening-up. The province has successfully transitioned from a traditional industrialized economy to a modern, service-oriented, innovation-driven, digital economy.
During their first stop in Zhejiang, the participants visited China's e-commerce giant Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, where they witnessed the dynamism of China's e-commerce sector. They observed real-time orders from across the country and reviewed the outcomes of the recent Double 11 Shopping Festival.
The group also explored how the e-commerce model supports the sales of rural products and contributes to charity, fostering social welfare initiatives.
In Yucun, a village in Anji county where the concept "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" was first proposed, the participants learned how ecological improvements have benefited local residents, becoming a backbone of economic development. Once plagued by environmental degradation due to mining, the village is now picturesque and attracts a stream of tourists. In 2023, Yucun recorded a total village collective economic income of 22.47 million yuan and a per capita income of 71,000 yuan.
Amid the scenic mountains and rivers, participants eagerly pulled out their phones to capture memorable moments.
Aslan Abashidze, a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said that Zhejiang's success exemplifies "how a strong economic foundation contributes to people's happiness and well-being."
Abashidze highlighted China's ability to turn theoretical discussions at the international legal level into practical realities. "What I have seen here serves as an excellent example for other countries, especially those from the Global South, demonstrating how to implement ideas discussed at platforms like the United Nations," he told the Global Times.
He also praised China's Belt and Road Initiative, calling it a transformative action plan that promotes mutual benefits and development. "China's approach to fostering international cooperation sets a high standard," he said.
By the people, for the people
In addition to economic development, China's grassroots governance and the inheritance of traditional cultural values also gave participants much to ponder.
They visited the Fengqiao community in Shaoxing, the birthplace of the Fengqiao model.
Standing amid the beautiful Jiangnan traditional pavilions and bridges over flowing water, the exhibition hall in Fengqiao community provides a detailed introduction to the origins of the Fengqiao model and its development in the New Era.
Created by people in Fengqiao, a small town in Zhejiang, some 60 years ago, the "Fengqiao model" gained recognition for promoting the resolution of disputes by people at the community level. It has since been promoted across the country.
Emmanuel Nweke, Minister Counsellor on Drugs, Crime and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, shared his observations with the Global Times. "In Nigeria, conflict resolution at the community level is less common these days, as modern systems often require turning to the police or courts, which sometimes fail to restore peace," he said. "When disputes are resolved within the community, the outcomes tend to be more lasting."
He emphasized the challenges faced by developing countries, where "the priority often shifts to development over civil and political rights, as poverty and underdevelopment leave many unable to meet basic needs."
Zineb Ouaaba, Studies Officer at the Interministerial Human Rights Department in Morocco, expressed interest in the Fengqiao model's development and its influence across other parts of China.
"The exhibition guided us through a social justice model grounded in community practices and the values of local people," she told the Global Times. "It ensures that everyone becomes an actor, not merely a participant. I am not just a recipient of services," she said.
The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," is held in Beijing on Saturday. Experts and scholars engaged in discussions on the topic, "Exploring the path of great power relations: differences and consensus." Huang Jing, a distinguished professor at Shanghai International Studies University, said that among the current four major world powers - China, the US, India and Russia - China, India and Russia all belong to the Global South, and are also members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, this marks the most fundamental structural change in international landscape since the Industrial Revolution.
Huang said in this irreversible shift in the international landscape, "a just cause attracts much support, an unjust one finds little." This "just cause" refers to peaceful and stable development, which is the shared goal of the vast majority of countries and a global trend. In international affairs and major power relations, China has made the maintenance of peace and the promotion of development its primary responsibility as a major power. As a result, China's responsibility and achievements will receive positive responses and support.
Regarding the current international order, Huang outlined three fundamental pillars: The first is the international political order centered around the United Nations; The second is the global economic and trade order framed by the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership; The third is the international financial order supported by institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. The common feature of these three pillars is their foundation in multilateral mechanisms, created collectively by all, rather than dominated by any single major power. For this reason, China firmly upholds multilateralism in international affairs, and advocates for global governance based on multilateral mechanisms.
