Xi Makes First Vietnam Visit Since 2017 to Counter US Clout

Chinese leader last visited the Southeast Asian nation in 2017
President Biden upgraded ties with Hanoi in September

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to begin his first state visit to Vietnam since 2017. Xi was greeted by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as he stepped off his plane. Dozens of Chinese and Vietnamese nationals gathered at the airport, waving flags to welcome Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. (Source: APTN)

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By Philip Heijmans

December 11, 2023 at 9:00 PM UTC

Updated on

December 12, 2023 at 12:52 AM UTC

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When Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first trip to Vietnam in six years, he’ll be seeking to ensure a strategically important Asian partner hasn’t drifted too close to the US.

The Chinese leader will arrive in Hanoi on Tuesday with a mission to upgrade ties with his Communist counterparts, the foreign ministry in Beijing said last week. He’s expected to lay down funding for railway lines crucial to exports from Vietnam, a boon for a manufacturer struggling to bolster post-pandemic growth.