China, Vietnam signs agreements as xi visits Hanoi amidst US invoices tensions

Hanoi: China’s president Xi Jinping on Monday called for stronger ties with Vietnam for commercial and supply chains amid US invoices, as he watched in Hanoi the signing of dozens of cooperation agreements between the two communist nations.

The visit, designed for weeks and part of a wider trip to Southeast Asia, comes as Beijing faces 145% of US duties, while Vietnam is negotiating a 46% reduction in endangered US invoices, which would otherwise be applied in July.

“The two sides should boost cooperation in production and supply chains,” Xi said in an article in Nhandan, the Vietnam Communist Party newspaper, published before its arrival on Monday. He also urged more trade and stronger links with Hanoi to artificial intelligence and green economy.

“There are no winners in the trade wars and the tariff wars,” Xi added, without specifically mentioning the US.

After meeting with the leading Vietnam leader in Lam, the two countries signed dozens of cooperation agreements, material of the documents examined by Reuters It showed, including the agreements to strengthen the supply chains and cooperation for the railways.

The content of the agreements was not disclosed and was not clear whether they were for any financial or binding commitments.

On Saturday, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son had said that about 40 agreements would be signed. A separate Air Force business agreement was signed on Sunday.

Under Washington pressure, Vietnam is strictly controlled in some trade with China to ensure that the goods exported to the United States “made in vietnam” have sufficient value added to the country to justify it.

A memorandum of agreement signed on Monday is to strengthen the cooperation between the Council of China to promote international trade and the Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnam Industry, which issues certificates for the origin of the goods.

Vietnam is an important industrial and assembled hub in Southeast Asia. Most of its imports come from China, while the United States is the main export market. The country is a critical source of electronics, shoes and clothing for the United States.

During the first three months of this year, he introduced Hanoi goods worth $ 30 billion from Beijing, while its exports to Washington amounted to $ 31.4 billion, Vietnam’s customs elements show a long -term confirmation of USA.

Railway connections, planes

After a two -day stop at Hanoi, the XI will continue the Southeast Asia journey on Tuesday with a visit to Malaysia and Cambodia from April 15 to 18.

XI’s journey to Hanoi, the second in less than 18 months, aims to consolidate relationships with a neighbor who has received billions of Chinese investment dollars in recent years, as China -based manufacturers moved south to avoid the invoices imposed by Trump.

Vietnam’s LAM in an article published Monday in state -run media stated that Hanoi wanted to boost cooperation in defense, security and infrastructure, especially in rail connections.

Vietnam has agreed to use Chinese loans to build new railways between the two countries, in a significant step -by -building confidence that would enhance bilateral trade and connections.

However, a loan agreement has not yet been announced.

After prolonged pressure, Beijing received Vietnam’s approval for airplanes authorized by the Chinese Air Force regulatory authority, which paves the way for the use of China COMAC passengers in the nation of Southeast Asia.

Hanoi recognized China’s regulatory authority as equal to that of the United States and the European Union, according to a decree, the government approved the day before the arrival of XI and was revealed to the government gate on Monday.

The comac planes operate from several Chinese companies, but so far they are struggling to find foreign buyers or be approved abroad.

On Sunday, the Vietnam Vietjet and Comac budget company signed a memorandum of agreement to Hanoi, according to an invitation to the event observed by Reuters.

A Comac C909 regional plane with Vietjet’s Livery and the Chengdu Airlines logo in China was parked Monday at Hanoi International Airport.

The content of the agreement has not yet been announced, but Reuters It was reported in previous weeks that according to an agreement plan, the Vietjet would lease two C909 planes, operating by the crew from the Cengdu Airlines on two domestic routes.

Despite strong economic ties, tensions often appear between the two countries above controversial boundaries in the sea of ​​southern China.

Vietnam’s concessions to the US to avoid invoices can also irritate Beijing, as they include the development of the Elon Musk satellite Starlink Satellite in the Nation of Southeast Asia, in addition to suppressing it with China for possible fraud.

Vietnam, in recent months, has also imposed duties against collapse on various Chinese steel products and ended a tax exemption for low -value parcels in a move that government officials describe that they are intended to reduce the influx of cheap Chinese inputs.

The other two countries on the Southeast Asian route of XI, Cambodia and Malaysia face 49% and 24% US duties respectively and have already begun to reach the US to pursue a postponement.

Reference by Francesco Guarascio, Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen, Thinh Nguyen, Athit Perawongmetha in Hanoi, Liz Lee in Beijing. Writing from Francesco Guarascio. Edit by Himani Sarkar, Lincoln Feast and Hugh Lawson.