Chinese President Xi Jinping began a visit to Vietnam on Monday, kicking off a tour of Southeast Asia that will also include Malaysia and Cambodia. The trip aims to strengthen China's regional partnerships at a time when Sino-US economic relations are experiencing heightened tensions due to the tariff crisis.Voice of Vietnam quoted Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son as saying that the Chinese president arrived in Vietnam for a two-day official state visit at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tu Lam and Vietnamese President Leung Quang.He added that the visit represents "an important foreign political event with far-reaching strategic implications for the course of bilateral relations in an era marked by complex regional and international challenges," expressing the Vietnamese leadership's aspiration to strengthen political trust and intensify high-level strategic exchanges between the two parties and countries.The radio station reported that this visit marks the Chinese president's first foreign visit in 2025, his fourth to Vietnam, and his second during his current term. This highlights Vietnam's position in Beijing's regional diplomatic strategy and reflects the Chinese leadership's commitment to strengthening good-neighborly relations and political and economic integration between the two countries.She stated that the visit coincides with the two countries' celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and is part of the Year of Bilateral Exchanges, less than a year after the Vietnamese Secretary-General's visit to China.During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign more than 40 cooperation agreements covering railway infrastructure, agricultural trade, the digital economy, and green development, enhancing the two countries' positions in the regional supply chain.This visit is part of the Chinese president's Asian tour, which also includes Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18. The tour aims to deepen regional partnerships at a time when Sino-US economic relations are experiencing escalating tensions following Washington's imposition of 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports and 46 percent on Vietnamese imports.Since 2008, China and Vietnam have witnessed a rapid strengthening of their relations, following the elevation of their partnership to a comprehensive strategic cooperation, particularly as Beijing seeks to neutralize Washington's influence in the Asia-Pacific region by building new bridges with its Asian neighbors.