International
Vietnam’s New Leader Makes First Overseas Visit to China
Vietnam’s newly appointed leader, To Lam, has chosen China for his first official overseas visit, underscoring the ongoing significance of the relationship between the Southeast Asian nation and its powerful northern neighbour.
Lam arrived in Guangzhou, a major manufacturing hub close to Hong Kong, on a cloudy Sunday morning, according to reports from Chinese state media.
From there, he proceeded to Beijing, where he was scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lam’s three-day visit marks his first international trip since he was confirmed as general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party, the highest political office in the country, just two weeks ago.
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He took over from Nguyen Phu Trong, who died last month after leading Vietnam for 13 years.
In addition to his role as general secretary, Lam has held the largely symbolic position of Vietnam’s president since May.
Yu Xiangdong, director of the Institute for Vietnam Studies at China’s Zhengzhou University, wrote in the state-run Global Times that Lam’s decision to visit China first signals Vietnam’s commitment to its relationship with its northern neighbour. However, Yu added, “Judging from experience, the country is not by any means going to give the U.S. the cold shoulder.”
As the U.S. and Japan continue to deepen their engagement with Vietnam, a former adversary of the U.S. during the Vietnam War, they are keen to strengthen partnerships amid rising economic and strategic competition with China.
During Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam last December, both nations pledged to build “a shared future that carries strategic significance,” a commitment that Chinese state media described as an elevation of bilateral ties. This agreement was particularly noteworthy as Vietnam had previously been hesitant to adopt such language.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited Vietnam in June, where he met with Lam after a rare visit to North Korea. Putin’s overseas trips have been limited since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has led to widespread international condemnation and isolation.
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