Vietnam’s Communist Party Leader Arrives in Beijing, Kicking Off a Busy Week of Chinese Diplomacy

Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, arrived in the Chinese capital on Sunday for a three-day visit that will include a meeting with Xi Jinping. Image via Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnam’s Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong arrived in Beijing on Sunday, kicking off what will be a very busy week of international diplomacy in the Chinese capital.

Trong’s three-day visit is generating a lot more attention given that he will be the first international leader to meet with Xi since the Chinese President embarked on an unprecedented third term in office. This is also the first time these two party leaders have met in person in almost five years.

Trong’s visit differs from those by the leaders of Pakistan, Germany, and Tanzania, who are all scheduled to be in Beijing this week because he’s not a head of state — a critical distinction.

Xi is not meeting Trong in his capacity as President but instead in his more important role as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. So, this is more of a relationship-building exercise between the two ruling parties than a visit that will produce tangible economic or specific political outcomes.

While both Trong and Xi are the leaders of their countries’ communist parties, the roles they play differ. In China, Xi has consolidated power as the head of the military, the Communist Party, and, of course, as President.

But in Vietnam, power is much more diffuse, spread across at least four main pillars that include the Communist Party, the President, the Prime Minister, and the National Assembly.

This means that Trong’s visit, while no doubt important, highlights just one part of what is one of China’s most complex geopolitical relationships in Asia.

Who Else is on the President Xi Jinping’s Guest List This Week:

  • PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER SHEBAZ SHARIF: The Prime Minister will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday. KEY ISSUES: Prime Minister Sharif is going to lobby hard for Beijing to continue its support for the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that has encountered both financial and security difficulties in recent months. Also, expect the Pakistan PM to call on President Xi for debt restructuring assistance. (THE HINDUSTAN TIMES)
  • TANZANIA PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN: The President will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. KEY ISSUES: Two issues will likely top the agenda for President Suluhu: 1) getting China re-engaged in the Port of Bagamoyo development project that faltered under her predecessor John Magufuli and 2) increasing Tanzanian agricultural exports to China. (THE EAST AFRICAN)
  • GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ: The Chancellor will arrive in Beijing on Friday. KEY ISSUES: Chancellor Scholz is under pressure to convey Europe’s frustration with China over human rights issues, specifically related to Xinjiang, and allegations of unfair trade practices. At the same time, the Chancellor will also seek to promote German business in China and has already pushed back on U.S. and European calls to “decouple” from China. (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)

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