Vietnam’s newly elected President To Lam is expected to travel to China next week for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to three sources familiar with the arrangements.
The planned visit, scheduled for April 14-17, would mark Lam’s first international trip since winning the presidency on Tuesday. This election gave him unprecedented dual authority over both party and state operations for the next five years, mirroring China’s leadership structure under Xi Jinping.
Sources spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of high-level diplomatic planning in Vietnam. The trip could face delays due to scheduling complications, they noted.
Both nations are grappling with energy security challenges and increased tariff pressures from the United States, making this diplomatic engagement particularly significant for strengthening bilateral relations.
Chinese foreign ministry officials stated they had no information available regarding the potential visit. Vietnam’s foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
The meeting agenda is expected to focus on technology partnerships and energy cooperation. Despite ongoing territorial disagreements in the South China Sea, the two communist countries have deepened collaboration across multiple sectors, including railway connections, border economic zones, and Vietnam’s 5G telecommunications infrastructure using Chinese technology.
New agreements covering telecommunications and other strategic sectors may emerge from the discussions, though officials suggest any deals might not receive public announcement.
Security partnerships have gained prominence in recent bilateral talks, particularly regarding Chinese surveillance technology imports. This emphasis reflects the increased influence of law enforcement agencies under Lam, who previously served as Vietnam’s public security minister.
Energy security discussions are anticipated as Vietnam relies heavily on Chinese imports for oil products, jet fuel, and fertilizers. Beijing has limited these exports due to supply shortages stemming from regional conflicts.
During March meetings between the countries’ foreign ministers, Vietnam emphasized the need for energy cooperation while developing fuel rationing contingency plans.
Lam previously visited China in August 2024 immediately after assuming party leadership, marking his first overseas trip in that role. A planned meeting with Xi following Lam’s confirmation as general secretary in January was postponed for undisclosed reasons.
