Vietnam’s President To Lam met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported, as both nations seek to deepen economic and strategic ties amid global uncertainty. The visit marks Lam’s first foreign trip since his election as president last week, making him the number two figure in Vietnam’s political hierarchy.
During their meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, the two leaders signed several cooperation agreements, according to state broadcaster CCTV, though details were not immediately released. Lam has consistently described ties with Beijing as a “top priority,” reflecting the importance of China as Vietnam’s largest supplier and a key partner in navigating regional challenges.
In an article published in China’s state-run People’s Daily on Tuesday, Lam emphasized that cooperation between the two countries must evolve from “increasing scale” to “improving quality.” He called for deeper integration of development strategies, economic corridors, production chains, supply chains, and strategic infrastructure. Speaking at Tsinghua University, he reiterated that China remains a “strategic choice and top priority” for Vietnam.
Despite competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, Vietnam and China have worked to strengthen economic links. Chinese exports to Vietnam rose 22.4 percent last year, with Vietnam spending $198 billion on Chinese goods—more than any other Southeast Asian nation. However, Vietnam’s exports to China fell 0.7 percent, resulting in a nearly $100 billion trade deficit.
Lam’s visit comes amid broader regional concerns over global trade disruptions and geopolitical tensions. He is among several leaders visiting Beijing this week, including Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both Vietnam and China rely heavily on oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted by conflict in the Middle East.
Hanoi views the rivalry between its top trading partners, the United States and China, as a significant obstacle to its goal of achieving double-digit growth over the next five years. Last week, Xi expressed willingness to work with Lam to “continuously strengthen our respective socialist causes,” congratulating him on his election.
The deepening engagement between Vietnam and China underscores the delicate balancing act faced by Hanoi as it seeks to safeguard its economic interests while managing complex regional dynamics.
