China and Vietnam Deepen Ties as Xi Jinping Begins Southeast Asia Tour

Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off his Southeast Asia tour on Monday with a high-profile visit to Vietnam, reinforcing the bond between the two communist-led nations amid rising global trade tensions.

Welcomed in Hanoi with a 21-gun salute, a ceremonial guard of honor, and enthusiastic children waving flags, Xi’s arrival marked his first overseas trip of the year. The Chinese leader was received by Vietnam’s top officials, including General Secretary To Lam, in what both sides described as a significant moment in regional diplomacy.

During the visit, China and Vietnam signed approximately 40 cooperation agreements, though specific details have yet to be disclosed. However, prior discussions hinted at partnerships in trade, infrastructure, and aviation.

Xi’s trip comes at a time when the global economic landscape is shifting rapidly. Just weeks earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that rattled markets—only to partially walk them back.

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While some levies on countries like Vietnam have been paused, China continues to face steep tariffs from the U.S., prompting Beijing to strengthen its regional alliances.

In a pointed message during talks with Vietnamese officials, Xi warned against protectionism, stating, “A trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism leads nowhere.”

The remarks echoed an op-ed he published in Vietnam’s state-run Nhan Dan newspaper, where he emphasized the need to safeguard multilateral trade systems and regional supply chains.

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Vietnam, which has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between the U.S. and China, appears to be leaning into its partnership with Beijing without compromising its balancing act.

“Vietnam is always ready to join hands with China to make cooperation more substantive, profound, balanced, and sustainable,” said To Lam in a government statement.

Vietnam was China’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia last year, importing nearly $162 billion worth of Chinese goods. Yet, the two countries continue to face thorny issues—most notably their overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

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Still, Xi struck a conciliatory tone. “We should properly manage differences and safeguard peace and stability in our region,” he said, expressing confidence that maritime disputes could be resolved through dialogue.

For Vietnam, which has branded its diplomatic strategy as “bamboo diplomacy”—strong yet flexible—maintaining good relations with both Washington and Beijing is key. While economic ties with China run deep, Vietnam also shares U.S. concerns over Beijing’s growing influence in disputed waters.

After Vietnam, Xi is scheduled to visit Malaysia and Cambodia, two other key Southeast Asian partners. Malaysian officials have already welcomed the visit, with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil saying it reflects efforts to boost bilateral trade. Cambodia, a longstanding Chinese ally, will wrap up Xi’s regional tour.

As tensions simmer on the global stage, Xi’s Southeast Asia outreach underscores Beijing’s intent to firm up ties in its own backyard—and perhaps reframe the narrative of who leads in global economic cooperation.