Vietnam’s President To Lam met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, as reported by Chinese state media. This meeting comes at a time when both nations are looking to deepen their economic and strategic ties amid global uncertainty. Notably, this visit marks Lam’s first foreign trip since his election as president just last week, positioning him as the second-highest figure in Vietnam’s political hierarchy.
During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the two leaders signed several cooperation agreements, according to state broadcaster CCTV, although specific details of these agreements were not immediately disclosed. Lam has consistently emphasized that strengthening ties with Beijing is a “top priority,” highlighting China’s role as Vietnam’s largest supplier and a crucial partner in addressing regional challenges.
In an article published in China’s state-run People’s Daily on Tuesday, Lam stressed the need for cooperation between the two countries to evolve from merely “increasing scale” to “improving quality.” He advocated 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 ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Vietnam and China have made concerted efforts to strengthen their economic links. Last year, Chinese exports to Vietnam increased by 22.4 percent, with Vietnam spending $198 billion on Chinese goods—more than any other Southeast Asian nation. However, Vietnam’s exports to China saw a slight decline of 0.7 percent, resulting in a significant trade deficit of nearly $100 billion.
Lam’s visit occurs amid broader regional concerns regarding 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 depend heavily on oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz, an area currently facing shipping disruptions due to conflicts in the Middle East.
Hanoi perceives the rivalry between its two main trading partners, the United States and China, as a major obstacle to achieving its goal of double-digit economic growth over the next five years. Last week, Xi expressed his willingness to collaborate with Lam to “continuously strengthen our respective socialist causes,” congratulating him on his recent election. The growing engagement between Vietnam and China highlights the delicate balancing act faced by Hanoi as it strives to protect its economic interests while navigating complex regional dynamics.
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