In the middle of a trade war with the United States, Xi Jinping wants to rekindle relations between Beijing and Vietnam. On the move until Tuesday, April 15, the Chinese president intends to tighten the links, especially merchants, with his Asian neighbor. After having deposited at the foot of the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, founder of the Republic of Vietnam (died in 1969), an imposing red flower crown, the head of state must attend this Tuesday at the launch of the Vietnam-China rail cooperation-with a view to the construction of a new railway line.
This Monday, Xi Jinping declared to the secretary general of the Vietnamese Communist Party, to Lam, that he wishes to strengthen their bilateral relations and that their countries must “Jointly oppose intimidation and maintain the stability of the global free trade system”according to a state media.
However, this visit is not with a good eye by the White House. ” I Do not blame China. I don’t blame Vietnam. It’s a great meeting (…) Or how to try to find a way to enter the United States ”, Reacted Donald Trump, after the signing of 45 cooperation agreements, notably on supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI), common maritime patrols and rail links, between the two countries.
Vietnam, directed as China by a communist party, has long been engaged in a “Bamboo diplomacy” : Keeping good relations with the Asian giant while continuing to also treat Washington, recalls the Figaro. If Hanoi and Beijing maintain close economic relations, these are however disturbed by the territorial disputes which oppose the two states in the Sea of Southern China. Beijing indeed claims almost all of the islets of this sea in the face of other riparian nations (Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia).
