Academy of Marxism Holds Academic Symposium on "New Theoretical Developments of the CPC and CPV and Promoting the Building of a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future of Strategic Significance"
On June 18, 2025, Phan Chi Hieu, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), led a delegation to visit the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The two sides engaged in a thematic exchange on "New Theoretical Developments of the Two Parties and Promoting the Construction of a Strategically Significant China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future." Xin Xiangyang, Director of the IMS and Research Fellow, attended the seminar and delivered a keynote speech. Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Deputy Director, presided over the meeting. Participating experts from the IMS included Research Fellows Pan Jin’e, Hou Weimin, and Zhang Jiangang, as well as Associate Research Fellow Liu Yan. The Vietnamese delegation included Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at VASS; Chu Van Tuan, Director of the Institute of Sociology and Psychology; Pham Anh Tuan, Executive Deputy Director of the Institute of Vietnam and World Economy; Pham Si An, Deputy Director of the Administration of Finance and Science; Hoang Hue Anh, Researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies; and Han Nguyet Tuyet Nhung, Program Officer at the International Cooperation Department.
Entering the New Era, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two parties and two countries, China-Vietnam relations have achieved leapfrog development. Particularly since the December 2023 announcement of the construction of a strategically significant China-Vietnam community with a shared future, bilateral relations have entered a new stage characterized by higher political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper pragmatic cooperation, firmer foundations in public opinion, closer multilateral coordination and cooperation, and better management and resolution of differences.
The primary purpose of the visiting VASS delegation was to understand the major theoretical issues of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the new progress and measures in China’s reform and opening up. Simultaneously, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, they expressed a desire to exchange views around deepening and advancing the strategically significant China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
The Chinese scholars delivered presentations on five topics: Chinese-path modernization, China’s current tariff policy and economic situation, state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and China-Vietnam relations.
[Photo: Director Xin Xiangyang and President Phan Chi Hieu]
First, Director Xin Xiangyang provided an explanation titled "Urbanization is the Key to Chinese-path Modernization." He pointed out that to understand Chinese-path modernization, one must focus on China's urbanization. He introduced four important characteristics of Chinese urbanization: First, the enormous scale of the population. In less than half a century, 760 million people in China migrated from rural areas to cities. In the midst of such large-scale urbanization, we produced neither social unrest nor the urban slum phenomenon seen in Latin America; this is a miracle created by China during its urbanization process. Second, the creation of new methods of urban governance, such as grid management [1], promoting the renovation of old residential communities, implementing large-scale urban renewal, and regenerating inefficient urban land use. This has transcended the capital-centric urban governance methods of Western countries and created a new civilization for human urban governance. Third, the successful handling of urban-rural relations, which pertains to the overall situation of modernization. Fourth, the formation of a new type of industry-agriculture and urban-rural relationship characterized by mutual promotion between industry and agriculture, urban-rural complementarity, comprehensive integration, and common prosperity through the establishment of urban-rural integrated institutional mechanisms.
[Photo: Scene of the seminar]
Research Fellow Hou Weimin provided a summary introduction to China's tariff policy and economic situation. He pointed out that the adjustment of China's tariff policy is based on independent opening up, scientific and technological innovation, green development, and international cooperation, aimed at further promoting high-level opening up. China's tariff policy, oriented toward fair, free, and convenient trade, will bring immense space for economic growth to the world and provide new competitive advantages to developing countries. China's tariff policy system is characterized by an absence of political conditions, long-term stability, and an orientation toward promoting shared economic development. He emphasized that although trade disputes currently exist between China and the United States, they will not fundamentally affect China's further expansion of high-level opening up, and the China-US trade dispute will be a long-term process. China will not yield to unreasonable demands from the US side. As for the outlook, the final outcome of the trade dispute will not depend on tariff negotiations between the two countries, but rather on their internal economic conditions, changes in labor productivity, and market and technological competitiveness. Hou Weimin noted that China is currently accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces as a breakthrough point for promoting high-quality development; these factors will reshape China’s economic development pattern, strengthen China's position as an engine of global economic growth, and enable China to make greater contributions to the global economy.
Research Fellow Zhang Jiangang briefly summarized the effectiveness of China's SOE reform and the key tasks for deepening it. He pointed out that the results of our country's SOE reform have been significant, manifested primarily in four areas: First, the reform of the market-oriented operating mechanisms of SOEs has been deeply advanced, with corporate vitality continuously strengthened and efficiency steadily improved. Second, the layout and structural adjustment of the state-owned economy has been optimized; the overall function and allocation efficiency of state capital have been significantly enhanced, while strategic restructuring and specialized integration have continued to deepen. Third, the regulatory system for state-owned assets has become more mature and finalized; institutional building has indeed been strengthened, forming a new model of state-owned asset regulation that is compatible with the advantages of the Party’s centralized and unified leadership and coordinated with the socialist market economy system. Fourth, centering on improving the core competitiveness and enhancing the core functions of enterprises. That is, significant results have been achieved in strengthening the role of SOEs in serving national strategies, in promoting the operation of SOEs truly according to market mechanisms, and in accelerating the construction of world-class enterprises and the cultivation of "specialized, refined, differential, and innovative" [2] enterprises. Regarding the key tasks for the new round of SOE reform, he emphasized that the implementation of the deepening and enhancement action involves "two types of tasks": the first type is functional and mission-oriented, and the second is institutional and mechanism-oriented. These are specifically reflected in seven aspects: 1) centering on enhancing industrial leadership to better promote the construction of a modern industrial system, with greater emphasis on the layout of forward-looking strategic emerging industries; 2) centering on improving technological innovation capacity to effectively bring the role of the new-type whole-of-nation system [3] into play and accelerate breakthroughs in original and leading technologies; 3) centering on increasing security support capacity and striving to improve the level of secure development; 4) centering on deepening the reform to create modern new-style SOEs, accelerating the improvement of the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics for SOEs, and raising the modernization level of corporate governance; 5) centering on creating a market environment of fair competition to better exert the leading and strategic support roles of the state-owned economy; 6) adhering closely to the central task by focusing on the "five values"—improving added value, functional value, economic value added, the proportion of revenue and added value from strategic emerging industries, and brand value; and 7) accelerating the "three concentrations" [4] of state capital: continuing to promote the concentration of state capital in important industries and key fields related to national security and the lifelines of the national economy, in public services, emergency response capabilities, and public welfare fields related to the people's livelihood, and in forward-looking strategic emerging industries.
Associate Research Fellow Liu Yan explained "Two Mountains Theory" [5], one of the core concepts of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. She pointed out that as a signature concept of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the "Two Mountains Theory" profoundly reflects the scientific and advanced nature of this thought and demonstrates the characteristic advantages of ecological civilization construction in the New Era. Regarding the theoretical contributions of the "Two Mountains Theory," she proposed three aspects: First, it reflects a new outlook on development. The core of the "Two Mountains Theory" is transformation; its essence is to broaden the paths for realizing the value of ecological products, establish a green, low-carbon, and circular economic system, and accelerate the comprehensive green transition of economic and social development. Second, it reflects a new outlook on wealth and values. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "Two Mountains Theory" not only affirms that nature is the precursor and foundation of wealth creation but also highlights the multidimensional significance of nature to wealth. Third, it reflects a new outlook on civilization. The General Secretary's "Two Mountains Theory" Sinicizes and substantiates the Marxist outlook on civilization. Implementing this theory and unswervingly following a path of civilized development characterized by advanced production, affluent living, and a sound ecosystem will inevitably promote the continuous development and prosperity of human civilization.
Research Fellow Pan Jin’e spoke on the theme "Leading with the Intellectual Consensus of the Leaders of the Two Parties to Jointly Build a New Chapter for the China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future." She explained the theoretical sources of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, specifically the concept of a "community with a shared future for humanity," and proposed four suggestions for deepening the China-Vietnam community with a shared future. She noted that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is passed down in the same vein as Marxism, combines the characteristics of the times with China’s specific national conditions, and is the Marxism of the 21st century. As an important component of this thought, the core essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy lies in advocating the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity. The principles of mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation contained within this thought provide a brand-new perspective for handling complex international relations and, more importantly, offer a fundamental guideline for China and Vietnam to promote the construction of a strategically significant community with a shared future. This aligns with the common goal of our two parties and countries to achieve national rejuvenation and prosperity by the middle of this century. She emphasized that looking back, the construction of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future has already laid a solid foundation and demonstrated vigorous vitality: politically, through high-level leadership and the continuous deepening of strategic mutual trust; economically, through integrated development and increasingly close economic ties; culturally, through the flourishing of cultural and people-to-people exchanges; and in national defense and security, through the establishment of multi-channel communication and exchange mechanisms. Pan Jin’e pointed out that the two countries are like brothers climbing a mountain—each must exert their own effort while also looking out for one another. The potential for cooperation between the two countries remains to be further released; the refinement and sustainability of pragmatic cooperation projects need improvement; differences in specific fields must be managed with wisdom; and complex changes in the external environment present common trials. Furthermore, Pan Jin’e explicitly proposed at the meeting that the social science academies of the two countries establish a "China-Vietnam Intellectual and Cultural Exchange Center" to provide a platform for academic and cultural exchange.
[Photo: Group photo of all participants]
The Vietnamese scholars presented on four topics regarding recent developments in Vietnam's reforms: Vietnam's administrative system reform, Vietnam's transformation in science, technology, and innovation, Vietnam's new policies on the private economy, and strengthening China-Vietnam cooperation and academic exchange.
In his speech, President Phan Chi Hieu provided a general introduction to Vietnam's current institutional reforms and organizational streamlining. He pointed out that since General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam took office, he has proposed the concept that Vietnam is about to embark on a new era of national ascent, making it the common aspiration of the entire Vietnamese nation. Under General Secretary To Lam's leadership, Vietnam has launched a "revolutionary" Doi Moi (Renovation) [6]. It is termed "revolutionary" because the breadth and depth of the reform are unprecedented, and it is characterized by firm determination, rapid speed, and immense impact—particularly in institutional reform and organizational streamlining, which involve the redistribution of core interests. To date, the adjustment of Vietnam's party and government organs is basically complete: Party institutions were reduced by two departments, government institutions by three, and the National Assembly by three committees. The Youth Union and Women’s Federation were merged into the Fatherland Front. Provincial-level administrative units were streamlined and merged from 63 to 34, the district-level mechanism was abolished (leaving only provincial and communal levels of local administration), and more than 10,000 towns and townships were compressed to approximately 3,000.
Pham Anh Tuan, Executive Vice Director of the Institute of Vietnam and World Economy at VASS, introduced the new dynamics of Vietnam's private enterprise reform. He pointed out that Resolution 68 of the CPV Central Committee emphasizes that the private economy is the most important driving force for Vietnam's economic development. The aim is to vigorously promote private sector development, with the goal that by 2030, the private economy will account for 55%–60% of national economic growth. Vietnam has proposed eight major tasks: 1) transforming the perception of the private economy, affirming it as the primary force of Vietnam's economic development; 2) conducting powerful institutional reforms to eliminate unequal treatment of the private economy; 3) ensuring private enterprises enjoy fair access to resources in areas such as credit financing, land supply, talent recruitment, and digital infrastructure; 4) incentivizing private enterprises to participate in core technological innovation and transitions to digital and green economic development; 5) promoting cooperation among private, state-owned, and foreign-funded enterprises to create better industrial clusters and high-value-added supply chain systems; 6) implementing preferential policies for private enterprises that possess scale advantages, development potential, and high-level management capabilities; 7) providing support to micro and small enterprises, such as skill training, legal consultation, digital transformation, and financial services; and 8) proposing the establishment of a modern, ethical, capable, and nationalistic Vietnamese entrepreneurial cohort with high-level management skills that meet international standards. Finally, he suggested that Chinese and Vietnamese private enterprises engage in deeper cooperation, which would be beneficial for the private sectors of both countries.
Pham Sy An, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance and Scientific Management at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), elaborated in his speech on the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Vietnam. He pointed out that the Vietnamese Party and State have currently proposed many breakthrough policies for the development of science, technology, and innovation: first, waiving tuition fees or providing scholarships for students specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or semiconductors; second, encouraging Vietnamese scientists working abroad to return to their home country to make contributions; third, encouraging foreign high-tech companies to invest in Vietnam. Furthermore, Pham Sy An proposed three suggestions regarding cooperation between China and Vietnam in this field: first, suggesting that China provide scholarships for Vietnamese students in AI, semiconductors, and automation-related majors to encourage them to study in China; second, suggesting that the two countries promote technical collaboration and technology transfer by strengthening the linkage of industrial and supply chains or completing joint research projects; third, suggesting that China and Vietnam jointly host international forums and seminars in relevant fields to propose new ideas and implement new measures for the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in both nations.
Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, proposed five suggestions for strengthening Vietnam-China cooperation and academic exchange: first, exploring how to effectively implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries; second, wishing for experts from both sides to discuss the theory and practice of how both countries promote modernization; third, wishing for various departments and localities of the two countries, especially enterprises, to further cooperate, engage in deep processing [7], develop new markets, and jointly resolve the issue of trade imbalance; fourth, for the two countries to coordinate with each other to jointly resolve difficulties faced in bilateral relations and expand cooperation in non-traditional security fields, such as addressing climate change; fifth, strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the think tanks of the two countries to create favorable conditions for academic exchange among scholars, and promoting China-Vietnam relations by exploring and resolving difficulties in governance [8] for both nations.
The Venue (Photo by Wang Yi)
Finally, the two sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo. President Xin Xiangyang presented the Vietnamese side with the Vietnamese edition of his monograph, Chinese-path Modernization. President Phan Chi Hieu expressed sincere gratitude to the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) for the efficient organization of this wonderful symposium. This exchange was brief but highly efficient; scholars from both sides expressed their hope to further strengthen theoretical exchange in the future, contributing the wisdom and strength of our academic circles to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity between China and Vietnam that is of strategic significance, and to advance the development of world socialism.
President Xin Xiangyang presenting gifts to the Vietnamese side (Photo by Wang Yi)
(Contributed by Huang Shumin and Pan Jin’e, School of Marxism, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)