The Communist Party of Vietnam creates two types of diplomacy, state diplomacy and Party diplomacy. Most of Vietnam’s relations with other countries are state-level diplomacy. This relationship is implemented through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or at a higher level, through the visits of the Prime Minister or the State President.
Particularly, the relationship between Vietnam and China is the relationship between the two parties. This relationship goes far beyond the state-level relationship. This relationship was based on the Chengdu Conference in 1990. The Chengdu trip was designed by three of the most powerful figures in Vietnam at that time, namely General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Do Muoi and Advisor to the Party Central Committee Pham Van Dong. President Vo Chi Cong and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Co Thach were not included in the trip. Thus, those who do diplomatic work of the state were excluded in this trip.
Since the Chengdu Conference, every time the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China is elected, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has to visit China and sign secret documents. Those documents were made by the Communist Party during the five-year term of the General Secretary of China.
On October 30, 2022, right after the Communist Party of China had just finished its 20th National Congress, incumbent General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong rushed to China to meet Xi Jinping to “receive new tasks.” Trong was the first foreign leader to visit Xi Jinping when he was elected for a third term.
Trong’s health is very weak. Even he did not attend many important meetings in the country, but still made a trip to China last October. He went to Beijing, walking next to Mr. Xi Jinping with an unsteady gait, but still had to make an effort to walk.
On April 26, Vietnam’s state-controlled press simultaneously reported that Truong Thi Mai, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat cum Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organization Commission, heads a delegation to visit and work in China on April 25-28. It is known that Mai went to China because of the call of Mr. Xi Jinping to “receive orders.” Trong could not go due to his old age and weakness, so he sent Mai to replace him.
One thing is, in recent years, the state-controlled press has completely silenced the motto of 16 Golden Letters and 4 Goods. The press is said to be silence because public opinion is very allergic to this motto. And perhaps, this way of acting of the Communist Party of Vietnam does not satisfy Xi Jinping. Therefore, this time in Beijing, Mai told Mr. Xi Jinping that Vietnam always attaches importance and top priority to developing relations with China, following the motto “16 words” and the spirit of ” 4 good.”
According to some observers, this trip of Mai will bring the Communist Party of Vietnam closer to the Communist Party of China. This also made Trong’s faction consolidate its power to outperform the rest. As for Mai, this trip helped her strengthen her political strength significantly in the Politburo.
Although Mai is the most powerful woman in the Central Committee of the Party today, she is still despised by men. Especially when she held the position of Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, she made many men jealous, and of course, she had more enemies.
Trong sent Mai to Beijing as a double duty, firstly, she helped Mr. Trong regain his strength, and at the same time, she strengthened her position in the face of her enemies, who secretly wanted to overthrow her. After the trip, it is believed that Mai will make more bold actions.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
