US President Donald Trump has criticised China's President Xi Jinping's trip to Vietnam, saying it was aiming to "screw" the United States.
Mr Xi is in Vietnam as part of a southeast Asia tour that will include Malaysia and Cambodia, with China trying to position itself as a stable alternative to Mr Trump as leaders confront US tariffs.
The Chinese leader called on his country and Vietnam yesterday to "oppose unilateral bullying and uphold the stability of the global free trade system", according to Beijing's state media.
Hours later, Mr Trump told reporters at the White House that their meeting was aimed at hurting the United States.
"I don't blame China. I don't blame Vietnam. I don't. I see they're meeting today, and that's wonderful," he said.
"That's a lovely meeting ... like trying to figure out, how do we screw the United States of America."
China and Vietnam signed 45 cooperation agreements yesterday, including on supply chains, artificial intelligence, joint maritime patrols and railway development.
Mr Xi said at a meeting with Vietnam's top leader To Lam yesterday that their countries were "standing at the turning point of history... and should move forward with joint hands".
Mr Lam said after the talks that the two leaders "reached many important and comprehensive common perceptions", according to Vietnam News Agency.
Mr Xi's trip comes almost two weeks after the US - the biggest export market for Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse, in the first three months of the year - imposed a 46% levy on Vietnamese goods as part of a global tariff blitz.
Although the US tariffs on Vietnam and most other countries have been paused, China still faces enormous levies and is seeking to tighten regional trade ties and offset their impact during Mr Xi's first overseas trip of the year.
Mr Xi will head to Malaysia later and then Cambodia on a tour that "bears major importance" for the broader region, China has said.
Mr Xi earlier urged Vietnam and China to "resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment".
He also reiterated China's line that a "trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere" in an article published yesterday in Vietnam's major state-run Nhan Dan newspaper.
China and Vietnam, both ruled by communist parties, already share a "comprehensive strategic partnership", Hanoi's highest diplomatic status.
Vietnam has long pursued a "bamboo diplomacy" approach - striving to stay on good terms with both China and the United States.
The two countries have close economic ties, but Hanoi shares US concerns about Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea.
Vance sees 'good chance' of a US-UK deal
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has said that there is a good chance that the US and Britain will strike a "great agreement" on trade due to President Donald Trump's love of the country and its royal family.
Britain was spared the most punitive treatment in Mr Trump's initial tariff announcement, due to the two sides enjoying a largely balanced trade relationship. Still, British imports in the US now incur a 10% charge while its steel and car sectors incur a rate of 25%.
Officials from both countries have been locked in talks for weeks that initially focused on boosting cooperation on artificial intelligence and tech but could also expand to include food and other goods.
In an interview, Mr Vance said that the US administration was working very hard with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government.
"The President really loves the United Kingdom," he said. "He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he's a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in (Britain)."
Citing a US cultural affinity for Britain, Mr Vance said: "I think there's a good chance that, yes, we'll come to a great agreement that's in the best interest of both countries".
