To Lam Pushes for Stronger China Relations Before Xi's Hanoi Trip

To Lam , who leads Vietnam as top leader, has established strategic goals for enhancing bilateral cooperation with China across defense sectors and security measures and diplomatic ties and infrastructure development. The writer from Chinese state media emphasized that developing closer relationships required these three major railway projects which connected Vietnam to China.

The railway infrastructure cooperation represents an important development before Chinese President Xi Jinping plans his visit to Vietnam during April 14-15 while leading a tour across Southeast Asia. Lam considered the rail construction projects vital priorities that would enhance both trade and economic partnership. The railway networks would establish commercial routes between China and the northern territory of Vietnam which would facilitate border trade.

Both China and Vietnam maintain complex historical ties with each other. Trade between China and Vietnam reached 200 billion USD last year while remaining China’s leading commercial partner. The Vietnamese leader reveals their need to pair economic necessity with navigational stability in the region by advancing these closer ties.

According to Lam the countries should strengthen their defense and security cooperation but he refrained from sharing specific details about their joint efforts. The experts predict future bilateral cooperation to involve joint intelligence sharing activities combined with coordinated patrol operations following the agreements made during President Xi’s Hanoi visit in 2023. The country is dedicated to maintaining a robust comprehensive partnership with China according to statements made by Lam during diplomatic meetings.

The railway plans tie into China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has some Vietnamese officials worried about taking on too much debt. Still, Lam’s government sees the projects as key to updating Vietnam’s infrastructure and growing exports, like farm products, which China has promised to buy more of.

With Xi’s visit on the horizon, people are paying close attention. “Vietnam’s trying to walk a fine line, getting closer to China while keeping ties strong with the U.S. and other neighbors,” said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst in Hanoi. The results of Xi’s talks with Lam could have a big impact on the region.