China, Vietnam Sign Dozens Of New Deals Strengthening Ties As Trump Works To Renegotiate Trade

Chinese President Xi Jinping signed dozens of cooperation agreements with Vietnam on Monday in a bid to deepen regional economic ties and blunt the impact of sweeping U.S. tariffs that have jolted China’s export-heavy economy.

The deals, finalized during Xi’s state visit to Hanoi, focus on streamlining supply chains and building out cross-border rail infrastructure as Washington doubles down on its trade war against Beijing, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. Vietnam, seeking to ease its own exposure to now-paused 46% U.S. tariffs, is walking a tightrope — boosting ties with China while avoiding the appearance of taking sides in the escalating Sino-American standoff.

“We should create greater synergy between our development strategies, implement well the cooperation plan between the two governments on synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and build more platforms for economic and technological cooperation,” Xi wrote in a Sunday op-ed for Nhandan, Vietnam’s state-run communist outlet. “China stands ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on the three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam and the smart port.”

Xi’s visit marks his first to Vietnam since 2023 and is part of a broader Southeast Asia tour aimed at bolstering China’s regional influence as American economic pressure mounts. The agreements span sectors from trade and defense to artificial intelligence and green tech, Reuters separately reported