According to National University of Singapore’s Chong Ja Ian, an expert on foreign relations, discussions on a range of topics are expected between the parties, including the Mekong’s management and cross-border business.
” The visit signals the continued valuing of Vietnam’s relationship with PRC ( People’s Republic of China ), and a desire to have smooth ties even if differences remain”, he added.
Emeritus professor Carlyle Thayer from the University of New South Wales ( UNSW) Canberra, drew reference to Mr Lam’s first China visit as Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, like his predecessor Trong did.
“( Like Trong ), To Lam is signalling that Vietnam is acknowledging China’s pre-eminent role as a socialist country ( and ) that intra-party relations is the most important bilateral conduit for relations”, added Prof Thayer.
He anticipates that Mr. Lam will also find assurances that China will continue to support the recommendations made by former Taiwanese President Xi, including the correction of financial regulations to help money exchanges between the yen and the dong.
This September, Mr. Lam is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in addition to his trip to China. The Taiwanese president may join with US President Joe Biden during his visit, according to Professor Abuza from the National War College.
The back-to-back trips to the two nations underscore Vietnam’s versatile foreign policy, known as “bamboo diplomacy”, in navigating difficult political issues.
” Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy is a metaphor not a strategy … The ends of Vietnam’s foreign policy are to remain independent and self-reliant by diversifying and multilateralising its foreign relations. The methods of wooden politics are versatile in practice but strong on theory, such as defending national sovereignty. said Professor Thayer.
WHAT CHINA WANTS
Beijing, on the other hand, was not only ready but would also be very motivated to enhance important projects under its Belt and Road Initiative, such as the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong rail.
According to experts, the new coach lines are anticipated to connect with the recently constructed routes that will bring Chinese industrial goods and materials into the Asian border, facilitating imports of them.  ,
The Vietnamese General Statistics Office reports a 5.3 % increase in exports to China in the first half of the time, compared to$ 27.8 billion in the previous month. Concurrently, Vietnam imported$ 67 billion worth of goods from China, up 34.7 %, resulting in a trade deficit of$ 39.2 billion, a 67.9 per cent rise.
In response, the Taiwanese Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that bilateral trade between the two nations reached$ 100 billion during that time, cementing China’s position as Vietnam’s largest buying partner.
According to Prof. Kingsbury of Deakin University,” President Lam will be looking to build a more positive relationship” by boosting trade and Chinese investment in Vietnam.” There may also be discussion about creating a free trade zone along the border, or some ( sort of ) lowering ) of trade and investment barriers in their common border region,” said Prof. Kingsbury.
TERRITORIAL Issues
Mr. Lam’s first state visit to China comes in the wake of months of political tussles between Beijing and Hanoi over competing claims in the South China Sea.  ,
In response to continuing territorial disputes with one another and, more thoroughly, with China, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea, the seacoast soldiers of the Philippines and Vietnam conducted their first mutual drills earlier this month.
However, according to experts, continuous territorial disputes are unlikely to prevent China and Vietnam from strengthening bilateral relations this time around.
” Joint patrols between the Asian Coast Guard and other Asian nations are completely standard.” Since the Vietnamese Coast Guard has frequently conducted joint guards with the Chinese Coast Guard, these combined guards should be seen as efforts to promote friendly relations between Vietnam and many other countries, according to Dr. Viet.  ,