China and Vietnam strengthen ties, sign 14 agreements

During a three-day visit to Beijing, Vietnam's new president, Vo Van Lam, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen political and economic ties, emphasizing their shared communist ideology. They signed 14 cooperation agreements across various sectors. China remains Vietnam's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $172 billion in 2023. Lam affirmed Vietnam's support for China's territorial claims, despite historical tensions over the South China Sea.