The successful conclusion of the first ministerial-level "3+3" strategic dialogue between China and Vietnam marks a new level of bilateral communication and coordination, and sets an example for China to approach its cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries, a Chinese expert on international relations said in Beijing on Tuesday.
Xu Liping, director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' National Institute of International Strategy, shared his views with China Media Group (CMG) about the significance of the newly established strategic cooperation mechanism between China and Vietnam.
Foreign ministers, defense ministers, and ministers of public security from China and Vietnam held in-depth talks in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Monday, with discussions focused on developments and changes in the international landscape, safeguarding political security, and advancing defense and law enforcement cooperation, reaching broad consensus.
The "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security between China and Vietnam at the ministerial level represents the first strategic communication platform of its kind globally, established by both countries as a vital initiative to safeguard political system security and deepen strategic coordination.
Xu highlighted the great importance and practical outcomes of the dialogue.
"I believe the cooperation mechanism on diplomacy, defense and public security at the ministerial level is of great importance. Based on this dialog, the two sides may establish working groups on related topics in the future to make the mechanism complete and thorough. This time, bilateral cooperation in specific areas, such as energy security and economy and trade, has produced many practical outcomes. Furthermore, on how to manage differences, particularly differences on maritime issues, I think both sides have reached very important consensus," said Xu.
Unlike the "2+2" dialogue mechanisms, which involve foreign policy and defense representatives of any two countries, the ground-breaking "3+3" mechanism between China and Vietnam sets an example for further promoting state-to-state partnership by adding cooperation in the practical field of public security, Xu said.
"The '2+2' dialogue mechanisms we often talk about focus more about dialogue and communication at the strategic level. However, the new mechanism, by adding cooperation in policing, reflects the close integration of strategic dialogue with practical collaboration. It embodies a major aspect of China's major-country diplomacy, which is that we develop from practice more suitable approaches, or cooperation mechanisms, for getting along with other countries in the region. I think it represents a major innovation," said Xu.
In a speech at the Renmin University of China in Beijing last week, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh echoed Xu and other Chinese experts and policymakers in stressing the importance of deepening Vietnam-China cooperation across all fields.
"Vietnam gives top priority to developing friendly ties and all-around cooperation with China and to promoting the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. We will focus on implementing the major cooperation projects agreed upon by the top leaders of our two countries and continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges," the ambassador said.
Xu said as China embarks on the inaugural year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, the country's continued development will also present growth opportunities for member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Vietnam which is accelerating its industrial transformation efforts.
"I believe the 15th Five-Year Plan actually will provide a lot of opportunities for ASEAN countries, including Vietnam. For instance, the Plan emphasizes independent research and development as well as innovation in advanced technology, and I think this will present great opportunities for [Vietnam's] industrial upgrading. In fact, the importance of the '3+3’ cooperation mechanism goes beyond the bilateral level as it sets an example for cooperation in the region," said Xu.
China-Vietnam '3+3' strategic dialogue marks new level of bilateral relations: expert
