Beijing (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador toChina Pham Sao Mai has highlighted the significance of the upcoming trip to China byPresident Vo Van Thuong to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for InternationalCooperation in Beijing from October 17-20.

The trip, made at the invitation of GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President ofChina Xi Jinping, is Thuong's first working trip to China in hiscapacity as State President of Vietnam, and the third time a Vietnamese seniorleader has attended the forum, the ambassador told Chinese-based reporters of Vietnamese press agencies, adding it is the continuationof regular exchanges and contacts between high-ranking leaders of the twoparties and countries over the past time.

In the context of the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic CooperativePartnership and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2023, the trip demonstrates the high regard and top priority that the Vietnamese Party and Stategive to promoting the relations with the neighbouring country, as well asVietnam’s appreciation of connectivity initiatives, including the BRI, forpeace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large, Mai said.   

He noted that the trip also offers an opportunity for the two countries’ seniorleaders to hold in-depth discussions on measures to concretise their high-levelcommon perceptions, especially those reached during the historic official visit to Chinaby Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last year, to promote the development of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a stable and healthy manner,with higher political trust, practicalcooperation, stronger social foundation, and better-controlled differences.

Given complex and unpredictable developments in international situation and profound changes in the global economy, the President’sattendance at the forum is a practical activity to implement Vietnam’s consistentforeign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation,and development, and diversification and multilateralisation of relations, and activeinternational integration, according to the diplomat.    

He went on to say that it also conveys the message that Vietnam is a friend,a reliable partner, and an active, responsible member of the internationalcommunity, actively contributing to peace, stability, development, and cooperationin the region and the world.

According to the ambassador, with the theme of "High-qualityBelt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity,” theforum will review the achievements of the BRI over the past decade and discuss cooperationprospects and directions in the future.

The forum will include three high-level sessions,focusing on the digital economy as a new driving force of growth, connectivity inan open global economy, and a green silk road for harmony with nature, andsix other forums on trade connection, people-to-people exchange, clean silkroad, local cooperation, collaboration between research agencies, and cooperationat sea.    

The ambassador said the President will deliverimportant speeches at the event, which will see the participation of seniorleaders, delegates and businesspeople from about 140 countries andinternational organisations.

This will contribute to adding Vietnam’s voiceto promoting peace, collaboration, economic integration, and regionalconnectivity, thereby deepening relations with countries around the world, andcontributing to promoting regional and global economic growth and effectivelyimplementing the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, he stressed.

It is also an occasion for Vietnam to promote itssocio-economic development achievements, share major messages about thenation’s goals, perspectives, and development orientation in a bid toeffectively attract international resources to further serve socio-economicdevelopment goals, especially those of green transformation, digitaltransformation, and inclusive and people-centred growth, thus raising thecountry's role and position in the international arena, Mai said./.