The trip presents a way for Beijing to strengthen its ties and resolve the high trade barrier that the United States has placed on Chinese products
China’s leader Xi Jinping began a diplomatic visit to Southeast Asia on Monday, as he denounced President Donald Trump’s recent tariff actions and declared that no one wins in Trade war. Trump has maintained 145% penalties on imports from China, the second-largest economy in the world, despite pausing the majority of his “reciprocal” tariffs.
In an editorial co-published by Chinese and Vietnamese government media, Xi stated that neither a trade war nor a tariff war produces winners. “Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment.”
The tariff dispute between China and the United States has made Xi’s trip noteworthy. The trip presents a way for Beijing to strengthen its ties and resolve the high trade barrier that the United States has placed on Chinese products.
To Lam, the general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, met with Xi in Hanoi. He stated, “Amid the current global turmoil and disruption, China and Vietnam’s dedication to peaceful development, as well as the strengthening of their friendship and cooperation, has brought the world invaluable stability and certainty”.
Additionally, Xi had met with Pham Minh Chinh, the prime minister of Vietnam. The specifics of a number of memorandums that the two parties signed were kept secret. In an agreement approved in February, China and Vietnam would expedite a $8 billion railway project connecting the two nations, according to Nhan Dan, the official spokesperson for the Vietnamese Communist Party.
Vietnam has always shown skills at striking a balance in its interactions both with China and the United States. Although it operates under a one-party, communist regime similar to China, it has a close relationship with the United States. It was the only nation to host both Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden in 2023. In the same year, it elevated the United States to the same diplomatic rank as China and Russia.
Out of all ten ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, Vietnam was the largest importer in 20024, with $161.9 billion imports of Chinese goods, followed by Malaysia with $101.5 billion.
