CWA # 2041
China-Vietnam 3+3 Strategic Dialogue
Defence, Diplomacy and Public Security

Aparna A Nair
22 March 2026

Photo Source: China Daily

The World This Week Focus Note #349, Vol 8, No 11, 22 March 2026

What happened?

On 16 March, the inaugural China-Vietnam “3+3 strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defence, and public security” was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. It was chaired by China’s Foreign Minister, the Minister of Public Security, and the Minister of National Defence, with their Vietnamese counterparts. “Coordinating Development and Security, Advancing on the Socialist Road with Unwavering Commitment, and Forging United Fronts to Confront Shared Challenges” was the theme of the dialogue. The meeting was convened with the aim of safeguarding political systems, promoting strategic collaboration and rejuvenating the global socialist cause.

What is the background?

1. A brief note on China and Vietnam relations
The Chinese Communist Party assisted Vietnam’s struggle for independence with ideological, political, and material aid against French colonialism. Vietnam’s communist party unified the nation as a socialist republic in 1976. They also defeated US forces with China’s support (1950-1978). The relations experienced a difficult time when Vietnam, backed by the Soviet Union, invaded Cambodia and ousted the China-backed Khmer Rouge. It led to animosity and resulted in the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979. In 1991, normalisation of relations began under the slogan of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners.” In 2008, it evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. The guiding principles were now that party-to-party ties remain central, and the countries celebrated their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, joining hands for a “community with a shared future.”

2. Party ties and shared values
The Communist Party of China (CCP) and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) are rooted in Marxist-Leninist principles. They emphasise vanguard leadership, proletarian internationalism, and the socialist path. They strive against imperialism, revisionism, and “colour revolutions.” Vietnam’s leader affirms China as a “comrade and brother,” while China’s doctrine of “community with a shared future for mankind,” tailored to socialist states, guides the relationship.

3. The road to the 3+3 dialogue
In 2025, China’s President met with Vietnam counterpart to commemorate the 75th year of diplomatic relations. On this occasion, China’s President proposed six proposals to elevate the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and the "3+3 strategic dialogue" was one among them. This mechanism was instituted to strengthen strategic coordination on diplomacy, dialogue, and public security. It aimed to protect people and ensure regional security and stability.

4. The focus on defence, diplomacy and public security
The first aspect, defence ties, focuses on pragmatic cooperation in the maritime domain and border stability. It addresses separatism, cyber threats and natural disasters. Furthermore, the absence of major arms sales, prioritisation of mutual deterrence against external forces, and alignment with the socialist armed forces' ethos of self-reliance support regional stability without compromising sovereignty claims. With respect to diplomacy, Vietnam follows a “bamboo diplomacy” that emphasises flexibility and resilience, while China pursues a “strategic priority” with a multi-vector foreign policy. Furthermore, China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner. The influence is exerted over the regional supply chain, infrastructure cooperation, and connectivity. The dialogue aims to usher in a “new golden era” of elevated partnership amid geopolitical flux. The third aspect is public security, which aims to safeguard the political system and prevent destabilisation efforts. Additionally, it aims to counter transnational crime via regular ministerial meetings. The focus is on political stability, citizen protection, information sharing and joining campaigns against crime.

What does it mean?

First, strategic alignment. The dialogue cements CCP-CPV supremacy by institutionalising ministerial engagements in diplomacy, defence, and public security. The dialogue called for a "united front" to counter “colour revolution” and separatism head-on, given global historical experience. It aligns with the aspirations of both countries.

Second, the dialogue offers both countries an opportunity to promote regional stability and security. The parallels are tailored to the external and internal needs of Beijing and Hanoi. South East Asia is increasingly becoming a theatre of a tug-of-war between the US and China. Hence, the countries resort to consolidating influence and reinforcing their positions.

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate student from Madras Christian College, Chennai.

UK and China
February 2026 | CWA # 1957

R Preetha | R Preetha is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

The India–US interim trade framework
February 2026 | CWA # 1956

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

End of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
TWTW note
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan