Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a strong warning against protectionism and trade wars, declaring that “there are no winners” in such conflicts, according to state media reports. Xi made the remarks on Monday upon arriving in Vietnam, the first stop of his Southeast Asia tour aimed at strengthening regional economic ties amid rising global trade tensions.
This marks Xi’s first overseas trip of the year, with planned visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The tour is part of Beijing’s efforts to deepen regional cooperation and counter the effects of steep tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In Hanoi, a welcoming crowd waved Chinese flags as Xi landed, kicking off a visit that Chinese officials say holds “major importance” for regional diplomacy and trade. In a statement carried by China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi said he looks forward to “an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on issues that impact both bilateral relations and the broader global context.”
Highlighting the need for global economic stability, Xi called on China and Vietnam to “resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, ensure stable global industrial and supply chains, and promote an open and cooperative international environment.”
Reinforcing China’s stance, Xi wrote in Vietnam’s state-run Nhan Dan newspaper that “a trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere.”
The Chinese leader’s visit comes as Beijing seeks to position itself as a steady global partner, contrasting with Trump’s unpredictable trade policies. The U.S. president’s recent tariff announcements — many of which were later rolled back — have rattled global markets.
Vietnamese President to Lam echoed Xi’s emphasis on cooperation, writing in an article on the government’s news portal that Vietnam is “always ready to join hands with China to make cooperation between the two countries more substantive, profound, balanced, and sustainable.”
According to Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, around 40 cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during Xi’s visit, signaling deepening ties between the two neighboring nations.
