China and Vietnam agreed to step up security cooperation in their move towards becoming a community with a “shared future,” they said on Wednesday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his two-day visit to Hanoi.
China-Vietnam Ties
The Communist-ruled neighbours, who share close economic ties but remain at odds over boundaries in the South China Sea, signed dozens of co-operation pacts and agreed to set up more hotlines to deal with any emergencies in the hotly contested waters.
In their 16-page joint statement, the two vowed to work more closely to strengthen defence industry ties and intelligence exchanges. They said their aim in doing so was partly to avert the risk of what they called a “colour revolution” promoted by “hostile forces.”
They also announced the establishment of a strategic China-Vietnam community of “shared future” to promote the upgrading of ties. The decision was a historic milestone, and joining such a community was a “strategic” choice, Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh said on meeting Xi.
Xi’s visit to Vietnam is only his fourth overseas this year, following trips to Russia, South Africa, and the US.
The pacts signed cover possible investments in rail links and security, as well as three on telecoms and “digital data co-operation,” a list from Vietnamese authorities showed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, on Tuesday for a two-day state visit amid high expectations to further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries and the two parties. Analysts said Xi’s first visit in six years to the Southeast… pic.twitter.com/FQxiirhyMm
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 12, 2023
While details of the deals have not been revealed, experts said that digital economy pacts could allow Beijing to build a 5G network in Vietnam and invest in undersea infrastructure.
The countries also agreed to boost trade and investment and set up a zone focusing on farming, infrastructure, energy, digital economy, and green development.
Vietnam-US Ties
Xi’s visit to Vietnam comes a few months after a historic state visit to the country by US President Joe Biden, during which the two sides elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The White House had said that the “unprecedented and momentous elevation of ties,” from a Comprehensive Partnership established in 2013 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aims to help both partners achieve their “shared goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.”
US and Vietnam had also announced investment in the innovation economy and cooperation in science and technology. This includes a new semiconductor partnership that will help support resilient semiconductor supply chains for American industries.