Beijing/Hanoi: Vietnam’s President, To Lam, is scheduled to embark on an official visit to China from Sunday, August 18, through August 20. This visit, announced by both Vietnamese government and Chinese state media, aims to strengthen the bond between the two Communist-run nations.
This will be Lam’s inaugural international trip since his recent appointment as President of Vietnam. During his visit, Lam is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials.
Although Vietnam and China share strong economic and trade relations, they occasionally experience tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. This vital waterway is claimed almost entirely by Beijing, despite competing claims from several other nations.
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The visit comes at the invitation of President Xi and his wife. Vietnam’s government confirmed the visit in a statement on Thursday, aligning with an earlier Reuters report.
China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surging 25% in the first seven months of this year to reach $112 billion, according to Vietnamese customs data.
