Vietnam’s New Leader in China for First Foreign Visit

Vietnam has pursued a strategy of so-called bamboo diplomacy, trying to flexibly balance relations with China, Russia, the United States, and others.

Vietnamese leader To Lam attends a press briefing at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 20, 2024. Minh Hoang/pool via Reuters

Vietnam’s new president, To Lam, has met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China on his first foreign trip as leader of the South Asian country.

The general secretary of the ruling Communist Party succeeded Nguyen Phu Trong as leader after Nguyen died last month at the age of 80.