Significance of Lam’s Beijing visit: Making the partnership multidimensional

To Lam’s China visit from 14th to 17th April holds far-reaching strategic significance. The trip is not a routine diplomatic visit undertaken to indicate the long-standing fraternal ties between two parties or two governments: it underlines the two countries’ determination to upgrade the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between the two countries, needed in the current fast-changing global security environment. 

Significantly, this is the first visit To Lam has undertaken after taking over as the President of Vietnam, in addition to being the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP). His strengthened position is important to reassure China about the consistency of Vietnam’s approach toward Beijing and to indicate Vietnam’s policy of maintaining closer ties with China. 

This visit reflected the desire of the two countries to strengthen strategic trust for the common aim of development and building a China-Vietnam Community with a shared future. It was aimed at pushing up the CSP further by intensifying steps for improving connectivity, upgrading trade and people-to-people ties and ensuring regional peace, stability and prosperity. 

The inclusion of Guangxi in the Vietnamese leader’s itinerary signified longstanding ties between this region and Vietnamese localities. It also reflected new directions and opportunities for more substantive collaboration across multiple fields. In the long run, it will boost cooperation between the border communities of the two countries, which will in turn result in their prosperity. Guangxi is strategically situated: it shares land and maritime borders with Vietnam and serves as a vital gateway for China’s engagement with ASEAN.  

To Lam’s article, published in China Daily on the eve of his trip, suggested Vietnamese leaders’ desire for closer ties with Beijing. He conveyed that the VCP and the State of Vietnam give top priority to work together with the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people to promote the traditional friendship, enhance the strategic alignment between the two countries and jointly draw up a new vision for the development of Vietnam-China relations, ushering in a new era. His cryptic remark that the development of Vietnam’s relations with China is “an objective requirement, a strategic choice and a top priority”, revealed Hanoi’s approach. 

Lam’s foreign policy approach is based on Bamboo Diplomacy, which he has pushed up to the level of a strategic doctrine. He understands the value of multi-alignment in the present context. His article points out four dimensions, revealing clear understanding of the complex global development. First, intensify efforts to consolidate the political foundation of Vietnam-China relations and make it stronger. Second, promote cooperation with concrete outcomes as benchmarks. Third, obtain public support for enhancing bilateral ties. Fourth, while expanding cooperation, the two sides should continue to safeguard a peaceful and stable environment, properly manage differences, and appropriately address existing issues. “Cooperation between the two countries needs to move strongly from ‘increasing scale’ to ‘improving quality’; from expanding trade to deeper connections between development strategies, economic corridors, production chains, supply chains, and strategic infrastructure,” he wrote in the article.  

Lam is clear that the rivalry between China and the US should not adversely affect Vietnam’s economic development. China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Vietnam is China’s largest partner among the ASEAN countries. Bilateral trade reached a record high of more than $290 billion in 2025.     

Lam also assured China that Vietnam continues to support the “One China” policy. He expressed willingness to strengthen strategic communication and high-level strategic coordination with China, elevate the level of cooperation in trade, investment, railway infrastructure and tourism, and better manage the land border and maintain peace in the South China Sea. While he expressed a desire to boost ties in different sectors, he stressed that differences must be managed peacefully.

In turn, Xi underscored the need for both countries to step up the alignment of their development strategies, with priority given to advancing infrastructure connectivity. ‘Cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and the internet of things should be strengthened,’ he said.  

Several agreements were signed between the two countries during this visit. They agreed to have higher political trust, pragmatic steps to push up higher cooperation in defence and security dimensions, deepening of social foundations, closer multilateral coordination and peaceful measures to manage differences. Reports suggest that the two leaders agreed to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea/ South China Sea and refrain from actions that would disturb peace in the region. 

Overall, Lam’s visit was a great success. It indicates an opening of an era of closer ties between the two countries, when the geopolitical equations are changing at a breakneck speed among powers. The visit reflects that the partnership has moved beyond ceremonial visits to include political agendas and shared objectives. 

Lam has chosen to keep Hanoi out of the conflicting zones to achieve the goals set by the 14th National Congress. Closer ties with Beijing are needed for meeting its requirements of advanced technology, investment, energy, connectivity-related infrastructure and trade. The outcome of the visit suggests not only upgradation of relationship but also that the ties are becoming multidimensional. 

This approach also shields Hanoi from the adverse impact of changing equations, policies of major powers and the ongoing conflicts. Vietnam’s approach under Lam reflects a mature and nuanced understanding of power realities. If the differences between the two nations can be peacefully managed, it will not only be good for the two nations but also for the entire region. 

In essence, the visit and agreements convey a strong signal for future development of bilateral relations, needed in the current global environment. It is a strategic milestone in the trajectory of Vietnam-China relations that will reverberate across the region. Lam’s pragmatic foreign policy assures that Hanoi will be able to navigate challenges emanating from the strategic differences, historical grievances and coercive actions of Beijing while maintaining positive developments. However, given no change in the Chinese claims in the East Sea/South China Sea, a cautious approach would be desirable.                                   

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