Hanoi [Vietnam], April 15 (ANI): China's President Xi Jinping, during his visit to Vietnam, emphasised that the two countries should work to 'fight unilateral bullying'.

The Chinese leader's remarks were made against the backdrop of disruptions caused by tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration of the US.

Vietnam was the first stop for Xi, who is on a Southeast Asia tour, including Malaysia and Cambodia, which aims to stabilise regional ties and offset the impact of the US tariffs.

In a meeting with Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam, Xi said that both countries 'jointly oppose unilateral bullying, and uphold the stability of the global free trade system as well as industrial and supply chains', according to the Xinhua news agency.

In his meeting in Hanoi with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi urged both countries to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication and 'jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism,' Chinese state media reported.

Calling on the two sides to maintain the stability of the global free trade system and industrial and supply chains, Xi also urged the two countries to work together to push for an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to all, according to a report in the Global Times.

A spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce said on April 10 that China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner since 2004, and Vietnam has been China's largest trading partner in ASEAN since 2016.

Xi's visit to Vietnam comes after the US, which is the largest export market for Vietnam, imposed a 46 per cent tariff on Vietnamese goods. Although the US tariffs on Vietnam, along with several other countries, have been paused for 90 days, China continues to face big huge duties on its goods.

The Chinese President Xi said that China and Vietnam should expand cooperation in traditional areas such as trade and investment, and expand cooperation in emerging industries such as 5G, artificial intelligence, clean energy and digital economy. During his visit the two countries also signed 45 bilateral cooperation documents.

Xi last visited Vietnam in 2023 and this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between both countries.

After meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam, Xi said, the two sides should build on past achievements and carry forward the profound traditional friendship featuring 'camaraderie plus brotherhood.'

'A small boat with a lone sail cannot withstand rough seas, Xi said, noting that only by working together in the same boat can they ensure stability and long-term progress,' as cited in the report by the official Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, Trump on Monday said from the Oval Office that the meeting between Xi and his Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam, was intended to hurt the US. 'I don't blame China. I don't blame Vietnam,' he said. 'That's a lovely meeting -- meeting like, trying to figure out: 'How do we screw the United States of America?' Don't forget, the European Union was formed to do just that,' CNN reported.

The American news outlet pointed out that relations between China and its neighbours have been strained in recent years, with tensions flaring over claims of disputed sovereignty in the South China Sea. In February, Chinese warships held live-fire drills in waters near Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, known as the Beibu Gulf in China, after Hanoi published a map defining its territorial claims there.

In his signed article in Vietnam's Nhan Dan Newspaper, Xi urged the two countries to 'properly manage differences and safeguard peace and stability in our region.'

'The successful delimitation of our boundaries on land and in the Beibu Gulf demonstrates that with vision, we are fully capable of properly settling maritime issues through consultation and negotiation,' Xi was quoted as writing in the Vietnamese article published on April 13. (ANI)