Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Vietnam to seek strength through unity and further enhance strategic communication while meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Luong Cuong in Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, arrived in Hanoi on Monday for a two-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, and Luong Cuong.
"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, and also the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Over the past 75 years, the China-Vietnam relations have evolved from a traditional friendship of comrades and brothers to a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, setting an example of friendship, mutual assistance, solidarity and cooperation between countries," Xi said.
"Standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to strengthen strategic communication, solidarity and coordination with Vietnam in accordance with the six goals, work hand in hand to advance respective modernization, write a new chapter of seeking strength through unity and achieving win-win outcomes among socialist countries, and continuously demonstrate the regional and global influence of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future," he said.
The six goals for China-Vietnam relations under new circumstances refer to stronger political mutual trust, more substantial security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid public support for bilateral relations, closer coordination and collaboration on multilateral issues and better solutions for managing differences.
Vietnam is the first leg of Xi's current three-nation Southeast Asian tour, which will also take him to Malaysia and Cambodia from Tuesday to Friday.
Xi calls on China, Vietnam to seek strength through unity
Xi calls on China, Vietnam to seek strength through unity
Xi calls on China, Vietnam to seek strength through unity
Xi calls on China, Vietnam to seek strength through unity
The Port of Los Angeles, one of the busiest and most vital container ports in the United States, is now facing a dramatic slowdown of some 35 percent in cargo volume year on year this week, as U.S. tariff policies take a visible toll on trade flows.
Long a key gateway for trans-Pacific shipping, the port typically handles massive volumes of cargo from Asia, with about half of its incoming vessels coming from China under normal conditions. But that rhythm has been disrupted.
Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port, has warned repeatedly that U.S. tariffs are forcing companies to slash import orders, threatening a sharp drop in inbound cargo volumes.
This week, the first Chinese ships affected by the fresh U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration arrived at the port, signaling what's to come: rising prices and potential product shortages for U.S. consumers.
"I'm very concerned about [it] because everything is high. Everywhere you go it costs a lot of money. And I think it's not just me, a lot of people, you know. I mean everything even if I look at [almost everything], is made in China. So, you know, it [is] just anything I think going around not just here in the U.S., around the world. I think nobody likes it because you know, businesses are closing down," said Oscar, a local resident.
"It is very hard. The crisis is very hard. Everything is expensive. It's very difficult to buy things. It is almost little, what one earns, compared to everything which is expensive. Now that the president's [tariff policy makes it] all very expensive. We pay more than we should before probably with these laws," said Christina, another local resident.
The numbers tell the story of a port under pressure. Chinese vessel traffic has fallen by more than 50 percent.
Of the 80 ships originally expected in May, one in five bookings have already been canceled. June isn't looking better -- 13 ship calls have been canceled well in advance.
The ripple effects are stark. Truck drivers who once moved four to five containers daily are now averaging just two to three containers. From dockworkers, warehouse crews to maintenance technicians, many port employees are seeing workloads slashed in half. If the downturn continues, job losses could follow.
Industry-wide forecasts are equally grim. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. imports could fall by at least 20 percent in the second half of 2025.
But the drop in Chinese imports may be far worse. JPMorgan estimates a 75-percent to 80-percent plunge.
For the Port of Los Angeles and ports across the country, the economic fallout may be severe and long lasting.
Cargo volume plunges 35 pct at Port of Los Angeles in wake of fresh tariffs
