During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam, dozens of cooperation agreements were signed between the two countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Vietnam as the first stop of his Southeast Asia tour. Xi was welcomed in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi at the presidential palace with an official ceremony that included 21-gun salutes, honor guards, and flag-waving children. Subsequently, he held meetings with General Secretary To Lam, one of Vietnam’s top leaders. Xi’s last visit to Vietnam was in December 2023.

45 AGREEMENTS SIGNED

The two neighboring countries signed 45 cooperation agreements covering areas such as supply chains, artificial intelligence, joint sea patrols, and railway development. Xi’s visit came about two weeks after the United States imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods under globally declared customs duties. While mutual tariffs on Vietnam and many other countries have been suspended, China still faces significant customs duties. Therefore, Beijing aims to tighten regional trade ties and balance these effects on Xi’s first overseas trip of the year. Xi will depart from Vietnam on Tuesday to Malaysia and Cambodia. Beijing emphasized the “significant importance for the region” of this tour.

“VIETNAM AND CHINA SHOULD ADVANCE TOGETHER”

During his meeting with Lam, Xi stated, “Vietnam and China stand at a historical turning point and should advance together,” emphasizing the need for the two countries to maintain “the stability of the multilateral trading system and global industrial and supply chains.”

Xi also declared that “China’s mega market is always open to Vietnam” and stressed the necessity to “strengthen strategic resolve, oppose unilateral bullying together, and maintain the stability of global free trade system, as well as industrial and supply chains.”

Furthermore, in an article published in Vietnam’s major state newspaper Nhan Dan on Monday, Xi reiterated Beijing’s fundamental view, stating, “There are no winners in trade and customs wars, protectionism does not lead anywhere.” Vietnamese leader Lam, in a writing published on the government’s news portal, expressed readiness for cooperation to make the collaboration between the countries with a “comprehensive strategic partnership” relationship more concrete, profound, balanced, and sustainable. Both countries are ruled by communist parties and hold the highest diplomatic status of a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

BAMBOO DIPLOMACY

Vietnam has long adopted an approach known as “bamboo diplomacy,” striving to maintain good relations with both China and the United States. Despite close economic relationships between the two countries, Hanoi shares concerns with the U.S. over Beijing’s increasing claims in the South China Sea. China claims rights over almost the entire South China Sea, a claim disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brunei.