Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Vietnamese leaders on the second day of his trip to Hanoi, following Vietnam’s move to bolster relations with the United States and Japan.
Xi first spoke with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman, Vuong Dinh Hue, before moving on to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Vo Van Thuong.
The two sides signed several agreements, centered on “deepening cooperation,” including working together for the development of railways and telecommunications.
The leaders also agreed to a prisoner exchange, though few details were given about the agreement. They also agreed to renew an expired 2020 deal, according to local media, which allows for a joint patrol of the Gulf of Tonkin, which is situated between China's southern island province of Hainan and the northeastern coast of Vietnam.
The meetings come as Beijing seeks assurance from Vietnam it is still the country's most important partner, after Hanoi bolstered ties with the U.S. and Japan to the highest diplomatic status “comprehensive strategic partnership” — a designation China has held for years.
In a meeting Tuesday with Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi referred to the relationship between the two countries as a "China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance."
"Community with a shared future," is phrasing that has previously been rejected by Vietnam, although the rhetoric was backed in a joint statement following the meeting in a symbolic reassurance to China, of their important partnership.
Xi is expected to wrap up his visit Wednesday by meeting with students before leaving Vietnam.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
