Xi Jinping says China will build stable supply chain with ‘comrade’ Vietnam
- Chinese president also notes ‘complex international environment’ facing the two socialist countries in talks with Nguyen Phu Trong
- Visiting Vietnamese Communist Party chief says the nation will not allow any foreign military base to be established there
Trong – the first foreign leader to visit China since Xi secured a third term – said Vietnam would not allow any overseas military base to be established in the country, nor would it join forces with any country against another.
“Vietnam … has made the development of friendship and cooperation with China the top priority in our foreign policy,” Trong told Xi during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Trong also said Vietnam wanted to work with China to maintain peace and stability on their land border and at sea, to avoid maritime issues “affecting the overall development of relations between the two countries”.
Vietnam is also seen as an alternative to some of China’s manufacturing sectors in the global supply chain due to its relatively lower cost, especially given Beijing’s trade war with Washington and rising geopolitical risks.
During their meeting, Xi told Trong that China encouraged its tech companies to invest in Vietnam and also promoted cooperation in areas such as healthcare, green development, the digital economy and on climate change.