Vietnamese President To Lam continued his diplomatic tour of China on Thursday, traveling via high-speed rail to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after earlier visits to Beijing and Xiongan New Area. The leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee has consistently chosen China's Fuxing bullet trains for intercity travel during this trip, signaling keen interest in the country's rail infrastructure advancements.
Guangxi, sharing both land and maritime borders with Vietnam, serves as a strategic hub for cross-border cooperation. Analysts note Lam's itinerary underscores growing economic connectivity ahead of the 2026 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area upgrade negotiations. The region accounted for 32% of total China-Vietnam trade last year, with cross-border e-commerce volumes doubling since 2023.
This visit follows recent agreements to streamline customs procedures through the Pingxiang border gate and expand the China-ASEAN Railway Express network. Transportation Ministry data shows high-speed rail cargo capacity between Nanning and Hanoi increased 40% year-on-year in Q1 2026, supporting Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain development.
