By Focus and AFP | 2026-03-17

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Hanoi places top priority on ties with China during a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Hanoi.

The high-level delegation included Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, underscoring the broad scope of the mission.

First Sino-Vietnamese '3+3' dialogue

The conference took place March 16 on the occasion of the first ministerial-level "3+3" strategic dialogue on foreign affairs, defense and public security between the two countries.

Chinh called for stronger political trust and urged both sides to maximize existing mechanisms and expand cooperation in trade, technology, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.

His priorities included creating favorable conditions for partnerships across key sectors, alongside "reinforcing land border management, properly controlling and handling differences, and maintaining peace and stability at sea," according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Chinh proposed closer coordination between the two countries' foreign ministries to better arrange high-level visits, as well as expanding cooperation between defense and public security agencies in areas such as peacekeeping, law enforcement and crime prevention.

Meanwhile, the Chinese ministers affirmed that Beijing views Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and pledged more strategic coordination and sectoral cooperation.

Wang called for China and Vietnam to "strengthen strategic cooperation" to guard against "global turbulence," Chinese state media reported March 16.

Moving closer on economics, security

The two Communist Party-ruled states have sought to bolster their economic and security ties while navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Beijing has portrayed itself as a reliable regional partner, with Wang describing the relationship as a "community with a shared future."

During talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on March 15, Wang noted that the two nations should "deepen strategic mutual trust, strengthen strategic cooperation," "safeguard security amid crisis" and "enhance their respective national strategic resilience," according to AFP.

Maritime territorial disputes remain

However, the dialogue touched on points of friction. Trung proposed that both sides "promote balanced and sustainable trade" and called for high-quality investment and technology transfer, according to a statement from Vietnam's Foreign Ministry.

The two sides held "sincere and frank discussions regarding maritime issues," the statement said.

Wang said China would work with Vietnam to "properly handle maritime issues," referring to the overlapping claims in the South China Sea where both nations have conducted land reclamation and built military infrastructure.

The ministers exchanged views on broader international issues, including energy security and supply stability.

Both nations rely on the Strait of Hormuz for a significant share of oil imports, where shipping has been affected by regional conflict.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong and Public Security Minister Wang planned to remain in Vietnam until March 17 for more talks with their counterparts.

Last April, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam in Hanoi that the two countries should "oppose unilateral bullying" and maintain their strategic alignment.