China’s Xi urges greater cooperation with Vietnam

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to strengthen ties with Vietnam in a call to its newly re-appointed leader, according to Chinese state media on Jan 26, saying the two nations should enhance cooperation in regional and international affairs.

The call was the first between the two leaders since Mr To Lam was unanimously reappointed as

head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party for the next five years

on Jan 23.

Mr Xi, in a congratulatory message to Mr Lam, described the two nations as a “community with a shared future” and said Beijing was willing to strengthen communications with Hanoi.

“China and Vietnam should stay the course and remain unwavering in their aspirations, working together to advance development,” Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted Mr Xi as saying.

The two communist-ruled states have a long history of mistrust and territorial disputes, including over South China Sea boundaries, although their Communist parties have remained officially close.

Mr Xi urged Mr Lam to “jointly oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation”, state media reported, although he did not mention any particular country.

China and the US reached a one-year tariff truce following talks between Mr Xi and President Donald Trump in South Korea in October 2025, although the average US duties on Chinese exports still stands at 47.5 per cent.

Vietnam has in recent years deepened engagement with Washington. In 2025, it pledged to

cut tariffs on several US products

and moved to approve Starlink services, part of efforts to stave off US levies due to its large bilateral trade surplus.

Mr Trump’s administration has accused Vietnam of serving as a transshipment point for Chinese goods.

In the call on Jan 26, Mr Xi said the two sides must “strengthen confidence, uphold fundamental principles while advancing innovation, and guard against and defuse various risks and challenges”. REUTERS