Xi clinches major deal with key US ally months after Biden touted 'historic' ties.

China and Vietnam announced an agreement to increase strategic cooperation on Wednesday, months after President Joe Biden touted America's strengthened “historic” relationship with Vietnam.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with several Vietnamese leaders this week and said on Wednesday that China and Vietnam have a “shared future” that will be built on all fronts. seconds in the South China Morning Post. Months before Biden known with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in September and praised the “historic” creation of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the US and Vietnam.

Xi likely wanted assurances from Vietnamese leaders that their relationship with the US would not replace China's new partnership with Vietnam, analysts said. he said The New York Times. Beijing pressed Vietnam to form the highest possible form of partnership, called a “community of common destiny”.

China could try to exploit Vietnam's resources against the US, such as delaying plans to tap rare earth minerals or Vietnam's semiconductor industry, in which the US has made investments since September as a sign of good faith, according to NYT. Xi was “sending a message to the Chinese audience: that Beijing has not 'lost' any country on its periphery to the 'Western camp,'” said Huong Le Thu, deputy director of the International's Asia program Crisis Group, in NYT.

Beijing celebrated the new partnership with Vietnam on Wednesday.

“We believe that with the concerted efforts of both sides, China-Vietnam relations will enter a new stage that enjoys deeper mutual political trust, more substantial security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, public foundation stronger, closer coordination in multilateral affairs, better management of differences and joint efforts to achieve new achievements in the socialist development of the two countries,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning. said Wednesday.

The two countries have also pledged to work together to mitigate threats posed by “hostile forces” and will seek compromise on “maritime differences,” according to SMP. Xi said this week that China and Vietnam should reject any “attempts to destabilize the Asia-Pacific,” appearing to refer to US actions in the region, according to the Post.

The multi-agency partnership was formalized through the finalization of 36 cooperation agreements, which also include joint infrastructure projects and digital economies pacts, according to the Post.

“This is an important strategic decision we have taken to revitalize world socialism and ensure the long-term stability and security of our two countries,” Xi said. said Wednesday.

“This is truly a new page in the relationship between our two countries: a lasting and stable long-term framework that opens up ample space for the development of the bond between us for decades to come,” Biden told Thuong in September.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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