Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam on the 14th (local time). This is an effort to draw cooperation in response to the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the second term of the Donald Trump administration. China and Vietnam share a border, making them major trading partners.
President Xi arrived at Hanoi International Airport on a China National Aviation Corporation Air China charter flight in the afternoon. During his 1-night, 2-day visit to Vietnam, he is expected to sign dozens of cooperation agreements and propose a joint response plan to the 'tariff war' of the Trump administration.
President Xi expressed through a statement at the airport that he hopes to establish a new blueprint for building a community of shared destiny between the two countries with Vietnamese leaders and to have in-depth discussions on international and regional issues of common interest. He then attended a welcoming ceremony hosted by Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace in Vietnam.
After the meeting between President Xi and General Secretary Trong, both sides reportedly signed dozens of cooperation agreements, including strengthening supply chains and railway cooperation. The specific details of the agreements were not disclosed; however, it is known that one of them includes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, which is responsible for issuing certificates of origin for goods. Additionally, both sides agreed to expedite the railway construction project worth about $8 billion (approximately 11 trillion won) approved last February. President Xi is also scheduled to meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. During the visit, he will meet with all four of Vietnam's national leaders, including President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
Vietnam is China's largest trading partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Trump administration has set the reciprocal tariff rate at 46%, viewing Vietnam as a transshipment route for Chinese goods to the United States. In response, Vietnam has cracked down on the illegal transshipment of Chinese products by changing the country of origin label to 'Vietnam' before exporting them to the U.S. This is seen as an attempt to lower U.S. tariffs. President Trump noted on the 4th that General Secretary Trong said in a currency that if an agreement could be reached with the United States, he would like to lower Vietnam's tariffs to '0.'
However, ahead of this visit, President Xi stated in an article contributed to the Vietnamese Communist Party's official newspaper, 'Nien Jon' (the People), that 'there are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars, and there is no exit for protectionism,' urging to 'firmly maintain a multilateral trading system, ensure stability in global industrial and supply chains, and sustain an open and cooperative international environment.' He stated that he is ready to cooperate in building three railway routes connecting Vietnam and China and in constructing smart ports. General Secretary Trong also responded in a contributed article to the state-run People's Daily that President Xi, who has visited Vietnam the most among China's top leaders, is 'Vietnam's sincere comrade and close friend.'
Following his visit to Vietnam, President Xi will visit Malaysia and Cambodia from the 15th to the 18th.