Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in north China's port city of Tianjin on Sunday.
Pham Minh Chinh is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, which is running from Sunday to Monday.
Xi said that amid rapidly evolving changes on a scale unseen in a century and complex international dynamics, the two countries should reaffirm confidence in their development paths and systems, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and advance the China-Vietnam community steadily in the right direction.
He called for both sides to strengthen collaboration in areas such as connectivity, digital economy, and artificial intelligence. He also encouraged the sharing of expertise in building free trade zones and special economic zones to support each other’s modernization efforts.
He highlighted the importance of successive events marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and initiatives for Vietnamese youth in China, aiming to foster people-centric projects.
Pham Minh Chinh expressed the commitment to deepening strategic alignment with China, expanding trade and investment, enhancing connectivity, and promoting cultural exchanges.
He also pledged to uphold the "Shanghai Spirit" and work closely with China to foster greater development within the SCO.
Xi meets Vietnamese prime minister
Xi meets Vietnamese prime minister
Xi meets Vietnamese prime minister
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
