On March 16, China and Vietnam convened the first ministerial-level meeting under their newly established “3+3” strategic dialogue mechanism in Hanoi, bringing together senior officials from both countries’ foreign affairs, defense, and public security ministries. The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Defense Minister Dong Jun, and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, alongside their Vietnamese counterparts.
The “3+3” format — expanding on the conventional “2+2” diplomatic and defense model by incorporating public security cooperation — is considered a global first and reflects the deepening of bilateral ties. Zhao Weihua, Director of Fudan University’s Center for China’s Neighborhood Studies, described the meeting as a landmark, noting it took place at a significant moment following both the conclusion of Vietnam’s 14th Party Congress and China’s National People’s Congress. He said the talks produced broad consensus and a clear roadmap for future relations.
Key outcomes included mutual commitments to uphold party leadership and socialist governance, resist “color revolutions,” and safeguard political stability. Vietnam reaffirmed that developing relations with China remains its top foreign policy priority and that it firmly adheres to the One China policy.
On security, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity, combating online gambling and fraud, counter-narcotics, and fugitive repatriation. Their militaries agreed to conduct joint naval patrols and training, while also pledging to manage South China Sea disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982.
Economically, both countries agreed to align China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Vietnam’s development strategy, advancing cooperation in trade, infrastructure, cross-border economic zones, and emerging sectors such as digital economy and artificial intelligence.
Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam, who met separately with the three Chinese ministers, urged both sides to prioritize railway cooperation to facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges, and called for the “3+3” mechanism to become a model for bilateral cooperation.
Source: Sputnik News, March 18, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260318/1070305187.html