A webinar celebrating the 70th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic relations was held on August 28, 2020, jointly held by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY) and the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies at Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, Assistant Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Van Thao,Vice President of Renmin University of China Wu Xiaoqiu, and representatives from both countries’ relevant departments as well as well-know scholars and experts attended this conference.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo reviewed the development of bilateral relations in the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. He stressed that the bilateral traditional friendship nurtured by older generations of leader is an invaluable asset of the two Parties and countries that needs to be continuously developed. He wished that China and Vietnam would fully implement common important perceptions reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, and carry forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Assistant Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Van Thao said China was the first country in the world to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam. In the past seven decades, the friendship and cooperation have always been a mainstream in bilateral ties.The Vietnamese Party and Government always attach importance to develop the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and stay ready to further boost mutually-beneficial cooperation. The world political and economic landscape is undergoing profound and complex changes, with new problems and challenges. Nguyen Van Thao hoped that experts from the two nations will conduct in-depth researches and exchange views to contribute to the bilateral relationship.

Vice president of Renmin University of China Prof. Wu Xiaoqiu said that the current international environment is undergoing major changes. China and Vietnam are not only good neighbors, but also socialist countries facing common challenges under the current circumstances, both nations are a community of shared future with strategic significance. China's development is unstoppable and will bring more opportunities for the development of other countries, including Vietnam. We are full of confidence in the future of Vietnam-China friendly cooperation, which will bring tangible benefits to the people of two countries.

In the panel discussion, 12 well-known experts and scholars from the two countries had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on China-Vietnam relations and concerned international and regional issues, focusing on the two topics of “the international relations in the context of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations and COVID-19” and “regional security and maritime issues”.

In the final closing summary, Professor Wang Wen, executive dean of RDCY, summed up the "three difficulties", "three challenges" and "three practical suggestions" for the Sino-Vietnamese relations. Wang Wen pointed out that China and Vietnam faced many risks in social and economic development and in the surrounding areas in the past years, but both countries have overcome difficulties. In the future, both socialist countries will face many challenges under the worsening international situation. However, as long as China and Vietnam have more exchanges, trust and support, they will certainly overcome difficulties and usher in a new future for the development of bilateral relations!