Vietnam’s new leader meets China’s Xi on his first overseas trip

Advertisement

Advertise with us

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping called for prioritizing infrastructure connectivity with Vietnam and more cooperation on emerging fields like artificial intelligence and semiconductors during a meeting Wednesday with Vietnam's newly elected president, the state broadcaster said.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping called for prioritizing infrastructure connectivity with Vietnam and more cooperation on emerging fields like artificial intelligence and semiconductors during a meeting Wednesday with Vietnam’s newly elected president, the state broadcaster said.

Vietnamese President To Lam’s four-day trip to China, which began on Tuesday, is his first overseas trip since he was elected last week. That signaled Lam’s foreign policy priorities and stronger ties between the two Communist nations.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi said defending the socialist system and the Communist Party’s ruling position is the greatest common strategic interest between the two parties during their meeting.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Vietnam's President To Lam, rcenter, arrives in Beijing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.(Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Vietnam's President To Lam, rcenter, arrives in Beijing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.(Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP)

He also urged both sides to firmly uphold confidence in their paths and systems and persist in reform without changing direction, the report said.

Lam said Vietnam would regard developing relations with China as its objective need, strategic choice and top priority. He also said the country is willing to enhance the level of cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, railways and other infrastructure, CCTV added.

Both leaders attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents, covering areas ranging from inter-party exchanges and public security to technology and people’s livelihoods, official news agency Xinhua reported.

Lam, Vietnam’s Communist Party general secretary, was elected last week as president for a five-year term, consolidating his control over both the party and the state.

The move departs from Vietnam’s tradition of shared leadership, in which the jobs have typically been held by different people, and echoes the power structures in China and neighboring Laos.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Business

LOAD BUSINESS ARTICLES