Xi & Tô Lâm's Articles on China-Vietnam Ties - Chen Wenqing's Terror Warning in Xinjiang - China to US on Tariffs: 'The One Who Tied the Bell Must Untie It'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Page 1: Let’s begin with Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto exchanging messages marking the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia relations. Xinhua reports:
“Xi said that as close neighbors across the sea and good partners sharing a common future, China and Indonesia have stood together through thick and thin and engaged in sincere cooperation over the past 75 years, achieving remarkable progress in bilateral relations and fostering deep-rooted friendship between the two peoples. The Chinese president recalled his two meetings with Prabowo last year, during which the two sides agreed to firmly support each other’s development visions, jointly advance their respective paths to modernization and build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence so as to elevate bilateral relations to new heights. Both as major developing countries and important members of the Global South, the cooperation between China and Indonesia carries strategic significance and global influence, he said. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Indonesia relations, voicing readiness to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties as an opportunity to work together with President Prabowo to further deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation, strengthen multilateral strategic coordination, keep enriching the dimensions of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future with the features of the new era, and set an example of solidarity and mutual trust between major developing countries, a model of common development and a vanguard of South-South cooperation, so as to make joint contributions to the cause of human progress.”
Next, there’s a report on Xi’s signed article in Vietnam’s Nhan Dan Newspaper (Full English Text). This comes as Xi begins a two-day visit to the country. In the article, Xi makes the point that this will be his fourth visit to Vietnam since he became General Secretary in 2012. He added that “China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbours sharing the same ideals and extensive strategic interests.”
He said that:
“The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is inherited from our distinctive revolutionary traditions.”
“The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is based on strong political mutual trust. In recent years, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary To Lam and other Vietnamese leaders and I have visited each other many times, steering the course for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. Our two parties and two countries have kept close high-level engagement. Mechanisms such as the steering committee for bilateral cooperation, the party-to-party theoretical symposium, the border defence friendship exchange, and the conference on crime control between the two public security ministries are functioning smoothly. High-level mechanisms including the joint committee between the National People’s Congress of China and the National Assembly of Vietnam have been established. The ‘3+3’ strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defence and public security between our two countries has been held successfully. China and Vietnam hold similar positions on many regional and international issues and have engaged in close coordination on them.”
“The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is rooted in our fruitful cooperation…China has been Vietnam’s biggest trading partner for over 20 years in a row, with total bilateral trade exceeding 260 billion USD in 2024. More and more quality Vietnamese agricultural products such as durian and coconut are available to Chinese consumers. Railway connectivity and the smart port development project are being steadily advanced. Solar panels, waste-to-energy plants and other bilateral clean energy projects have boosted electricity supply in Vietnam. The Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line built by a Chinese company makes public transport in Hanoi more convenient. Contributing to each other’s success and pursing common development, China and Vietnam have set an example of solidarity and cooperation in the Global South.”
“The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is advanced by close people-to-people exchanges.”
Then Xi discusses current-day chaos:
“Today, global, epoch-making and historical changes are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered a new period of turbulent transformation. Despite the headwinds of mounting unilateralism and protectionism, the Chinese economy expanded by five percent in 2024, contributing around 30 percent to the global economy. It remains a key engine of the world economy. China’s new energy sector, artificial intelligence and animated films have come into global spotlight. China will continue to provide more opportunities to the world with its high standard, and will contribute to the development of all countries with its high-quality development.
Asia represents a new elevation in global cooperation and development. At a new starting point toward revitalisation of the whole region, Asia faces both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighbourhood diplomacy. We will stay committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. We will continue to pursue the policy of forging friendship and partnership with our neighbours. And we will steadily deepen friendly cooperation with them to advance Asia’s modernisation.
China is going all out to build a great modern socialist country and achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by pursuing Chinese modernisation. Vietnam will usher in a new epoch of national development toward the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country respectively. China always gives Vietnam high priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy. Our two countries should strengthen our efforts on all fronts to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute more to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.”
He then makes a five-point proposal:
First, deepen strategic mutual trust and advance the socialist cause. Under this, he calls to boost party, government, military, law enforcement, and security cooperation; jointly tackle external risks and challenges; and uphold political security.
Second, continue win-win cooperation. Under this, he mentions BRI, cooperation on the three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam and the smart port, Vietnamese imports, cooperation on industrial and supply chains, and emerging areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and green development.
Strengthen people-to-people exchanges.
Fourth, enhance multilateral collaboration and promote Asia’s prosperity and revitalisation. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Our two countries should firmly uphold the UN-centred international system and the international order underpinned by international law. It is important that we pursue the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative. It is also important that we promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. We should work together with the Global South to uphold the common interests of developing countries. Trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere. Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment. We should strengthen coordination in mechanisms such as East Asia cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation so as to ensure more stability for a changing and turbulent world and inject more positive energy in it.
Fifth, 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. The two sides should implement the common understanding reached between the leaders of the two parties and the two countries. We should make good use of the maritime negotiation mechanism so as to properly manage maritime differences, expand maritime cooperation, and build up conditions for the final resolution of the disputes. We should fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively advance the consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. We should be impervious to all interference; bridge differences and expand common ground; and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.”
Staying with Xi’s visit to Vietnam, on the page is an article signed by CPV General Secretary Tô Lâm (Full English Text). He refers to Xi as the “Supreme Leader” of the CPC and China, and “a sincere comrade and a close friend of Vietnam.” After a bit of history, the article says:
“In the overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations, the Party and State of Vietnam have always persistently and consistently given top priority to and determined to work with the Party and State of China to develop the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the Vietnam-China Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of peace and progress of all mankind. The Vietnamese people will never forget the great and effective assistance of the Chinese people in historical periods. Vietnam always considers China’s prosperous development as an opportunity for itself, and is pleased and appreciates China’s affirmation of prioritising the development of relations with Vietnam in its neighbourhood diplomacy and considers this a strategic choice of both countries.”
“Most recently, the two countries agreed to elevate the relationship to a Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance during the historic visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (December 2023).”
“Over the past three decades, bilateral trade turnover has grown by more than 6,400 times, reaching a new peak, exceeding 200 billion USD in 2024. Vietnam has maintained its position as China’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, emerging to become China’s 4th largest trading partner in the world, while China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner. To date, China has become the 3rd largest foreign investor in Vietnam, leading in the number of new investment projects.”
Tô Lâm assesses that today Vietnam is in “a period of important strategic opportunity”. He writes:
“The world is undergoing profound, fundamental changes of epochal nature, with deep transformations in every aspect under the impact of major shifts in politics, economy, culture, society, and science and technology. The period from now until 2030, with a longer-term vision toward 2045 and even 2050, the mid-point of the 21st century - key milestones tied to the revolutionary causes of the two Parties and the two countries - will be the most crucial period for shaping a new world order. It will open up great opportunities, while also posing significant challenges for nations. For Vietnam, this is a period of important strategic opportunity, a decisive sprint stage to usher in a new era of national development and to fulfill President Ho Chi Minh’s aspiration of ‘building a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam, making a worthy contribution to the revolutionary cause of the world.’ For China, this is a pivotal period and a stepping stone in realising its second centenary goal, building the People's Republic of China into a modern socialist power that is prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful.”
He then outlines a vision for the future:
First, maintaining strategic exchanges and advancing political trust. As part of this, he calls to “further improve the effectiveness and elevate cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs, national defence, and security, and between sectors, agencies, and localities of the two countries.”
“Second, strengthening practical cooperation across various fields and creating new growth drivers. Vietnam is always ready to join hands with China to make bilateral cooperation more substantive, intensive, balanced, and sustainable, becoming a model of sincere and effective cooperation between neighboring socialist and developing countries, better serving the interests of their people. The two sides should work together to explore new forms of cooperation aligned with the key priorities in each country’s socio-economic development strategy, focus on implementing major projects that will serve as new symbols of Vietnam-China cooperation, with the highest priority given to the development of three standard-gauge railway lines connecting the two countries in strategic infrastructure connectivity. Cooperation should be expanded in the areas where China has strengths and Vietnam has demand, such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resource training, to create new highlights in bilateral cooperation in line with global development trends.”
Third, build a “favourable social foundation” for bilateral ties. Under this, he mentions tourism, particularly revolutionary tourism, and press and media cooperation.
“Fourth, working together to build a peaceful and stable environment for the new era and the new stage of development in each country. The continuous promotion of a sound, healthy Vietnam-China relationship, along with joint efforts to properly manage and resolve differences based on high-level common perceptions, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, serves as an important stabilising factor amid the current complex and unpredictable regional and international situation. This approach aligns with the long-standing traditions and earnest shared aspirations of both peoples for peace, friendship, cooperation, and the sustainable development and prosperity of each nation.”
Some thoughts after reading the two articles:
First, there’s an obvious mismatch in bilateral trade figures. Xi’s article notes the number at $260 billion; Tô Lâm piece says that the figure is $200 billion. Such discrepancies are not unusual based on how the two sides calculate data.
Second, both leaders view the world as going through a profound transformation. But Tô Lâm’s piece appears far more optimistic about the opportunities that Vietnam faces. He literally writes that “this is a period of important strategic opportunity” for Vietnam. In contrast, Xi’s assessment is far more grim. Moreover, Xi’s piece approaches bilateral ties from a global and regional perspective. Tô Lâm appears to be focussed on the bilateral nature of the relationship.
Third, on bilateral trade and investment, there are two bits that stand out from Tô Lâm’s article. First, there is a need to make economic cooperation “substantive, intensive, balanced, and sustainable”. Among other things, this refers to the trade imbalance. As per Vietnamese data, trade in 2024 was $204 billion. Vietnam exported goods worth $61.2 billion. Imports from China were at $144 billion. Second, Vietnam wants “highest priority given to the development of three standard-gauge railway lines.”
Fourth, on territorial disputes, on the South China Sea issue, Xi discusses addressing it in a bilateral and regional context. Tô Lâm, meanwhile, wants these issues to be addressed “in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”
Back to the front page, there’s a report on the 5th China International Consumer Goods Expo, which was held in Haikou, Hainan, from April 13 to 18. This event attracted “more than 1,700 companies and 4,100 brands from more than 70 countries and regions.” Given that the neighbouring countries are the flavour of the moment, this piece talks about the positive experiences of companies from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Also on the page is a report on Han Zheng attending the opening ceremony of this expo. Among the other speakers were UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander, Denisa Saková, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and WTO Deputy Director Xiangchen Zhang.
Page 3: There’s an article on China-Malaysia Two Countries, Twin Parks cooperation. Some useful data in this report.
As of December 2024, Phase I of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park has cumulatively signed and settled 345 projects, with a total industrial output value of 106 billion yuan, total foreign trade import and export value of 45.14 billion yuan, and actual use of foreign capital of approximately $822 million.
Malaysia–China Kuantan Industrial Park has developed about 10 square kilometers, accounting for 71.5% of the park area, and has signed 15 projects covering industries such as steel, tires, papermaking, auto parts manufacturing, and food processing, with a total industrial output value of more than 100 billion yuan.
Then, there is the Kuantan Port, which has Chinese investment. The report says that since Chinese companies have invested in the port, its cargo throughput has increased from 10,000 tons per day to 30,000 tons.
The piece also talks about Alliance Steel, which is the product of a Chinese and Malaysian partnership. It says that the company’s annual production capacity has exceeded 3.5 million tons, making it one of the largest and most advanced full-process steel enterprises in Malaysia.
Page 4: There’s a report on Head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs Chen Wenqing’s visit to Xinjiang from April 10 to April 13. Among the towns that he visited were Hotan, Kashgar, Aksu, and Urumqi. Chen said that:
“political and legal organs should thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Xinjiang work, fully and accurately implement the Party’s governance strategy for Xinjiang the new era, firmly grasp the overall goal of social stability and long-term peace and stability, and further promote the law-based and normalised approach to anti-terrorism and stability maintenance, and resolutely maintain the sustained stability of Xinjiang’s social situation.” 中共中央政治局委员、中央政法委书记陈文清10日至13日在新疆调研时强调，政法机关要深入贯彻落实习近平总书记关于新疆工作重要指示精神，完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，牢牢扭住社会稳定和长治久安总目标，深入推进反恐维稳法治化常态化，坚决保持新疆社会大局持续稳定.
Chen said that “since the 20th Party Congress, under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, Xinjiang has made solid strides to legalise and normalise counter-terrorism and stability maintenance efforts, effectively eliminating the soil for violent terrorist crimes, and laying the foundation for long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the tasks of anti-separatism and counterterrorism are especially arduous. It is necessary to clearly understand the situation and tasks being faced, adhere to the unwavering stance of severely punishing violent terrorism, deeply advance the legalisation and normalisation of counterterrorism and stability maintenance work, and resolutely hold the bottom line of preventing violent terrorist cases and incidents from occurring. Adhere to strict punishment according to the law, strike violent terrorist crimes according to the law, and eliminate the soil of religious extremist ideology according to the law, ensuring that every instance of ‘terror’ is struck, and struck as soon as it emerges. Adhere to management according to the law, carry out in-depth and meticulous work on stabilising employment, families, and people’s hearts among relevant groups, continuously solidifying the foundation of stability. Adhere to prevention and control according to the law, build a ‘solid wall of bronze and iron’ for border defense and control, cut off the return infiltration of the ‘three forces’ from abroad, and resolutely block the threat of violent terrorism outside the national borders. Adhere to combining punishment and prevention, and balancing leniency with severity.” 陈文清先后来到和田、喀什、阿克苏、乌鲁木齐等地，深入有关政法单位、产业园区、种植基地，详细了解反恐防恐、维护稳定、安置帮教等工作情况。他指出，党的二十大以来，在习近平总书记坚强领导下，新疆反恐维稳法治化常态化迈出坚实步伐，有力铲除暴恐犯罪土壤，为新疆长治久安奠定了基础。今年是新疆维吾尔自治区成立70周年，反分裂反恐怖任务十分繁重。要清醒认识面临的形势任务，坚持严惩暴恐不动摇，深入推进反恐维稳法治化常态化，坚决守住不发生暴恐案事件底线。坚持依法严惩，依法打击暴恐犯罪，依法铲除宗教极端思想土壤，做到凡“恐”必打、露头就打。坚持依法管理，深入细致地做好有关群体稳就业、稳家庭、稳人心等工作，不断夯实稳定基础。坚持依法防控，筑牢边境防控“铜墙铁壁”，阻断境外“三股势力”回流渗透，坚决把暴恐威胁阻挡在国门之外。坚持惩防并举、宽严相济.
Chen Wenqing emphasised that to ensure social stability and long-term peace and order in Xinjiang, it is necessary to coordinate work in development and security, domestic and international matters, treating both symptoms and root causes, and balancing efforts within and outside Xinjiang. It is necessary to earnestly advance education and training in the national common spoken and written language, guiding people of all ethnic groups to forge a strong sense of the Chinese national community. It is also necessary to promote the standardised construction of comprehensive governance centres, achieving the resolution of contradictions and disputes at one place as far as possible. 陈文清强调，确保新疆社会稳定和长治久安，必须统筹好发展和安全、国内和国际、治标和治本、疆内和疆外等方面工作。要扎实推进国家通用语言文字教育培训，引导各族群众铸牢中华民族共同体意识。要推进综治中心规范化建设，实现化解矛盾纠纷“最多跑一地”.
Page 17: There’s a comment from the Ministry of Commerce on the exemptions to tariffs announced by the US government. The ministry called this the “second adjustment” made by the US government to its Liberation Day tariff announcement. The first adjustment was the 90-day reprieve to a bunch of countries. The ministry added: “this is a small step by the US in correcting the erroneous unilateral practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’.”
“The spokesperson pointed out that announcing so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ through a single administrative order not only violates basic economic and market principles, but also disregards complementary cooperation and supply-demand relationships between countries. Since the introduction of ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on April 2, not only has the US failed to solve any of its own problems, but it has also severely disrupted the international economic and trade order, seriously interfered with the normal production and operation of enterprises and the daily consumption of the people, and harmed others without benefiting itself. The spokesperson stated that China’s position on China-US economic and trade relations has been consistent. There are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism leads nowhere. As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘the one who tied the bell must untie it.’ We urge the US side to face the rational voices from the international community and various domestic sectors, take a big step in correcting its mistakes, completely abolish the erroneous practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’, and return to the right path of resolving differences through mutual respect and equal dialogue.” 发言人说，我们注意到，这是继美方4月10日暂缓对部分贸易伙伴征收高额“对等关税”以来，对相关政策做出的第二次调整。应该说，这是美方修正单边“对等关税”错误做法的一小步。发言人指出，以一纸行政令出台所谓“对等关税”，不仅违背基本的经济规律和市场规律，也是对国家间互补合作和供需关系的无视。“对等关税”自4月2日推出以来，不仅没有解决美自身任何问题，反而严重破坏国际经贸秩序，严重干扰企业正常生产经营和人民生活消费，损人不利己。发言人表示，中方对中美经贸关系的立场是一贯的。贸易战没有赢家，保护主义没有出路。中国有句古话，“解铃还须系铃人”。我们敦促美方正视国际社会和国内各方理性声音，在纠错方面迈出一大步，彻底取消“对等关税”的错误做法，回到相互尊重、通过平等对话解决分歧的正确道路上来.
My note: The way I read these developments is that Beijing is likely to feel somewhat vindicated in its view that it needs to maintain strategic patience. US policy continues to shift and will likely unravel further in the face of domestic pressures, particularly from big firms, and competing factions within the Trump administration. Even if Beijing wanted to negotiate, whom would it talk to and about what? Trump reportedly is waiting for Xi to call, but what would be the point of the call; what would it achieve? The idiom about the untying of the bell underscores this, from my perspective.
For instance, just look at the latest Reuters report about the chaotic nature of US policy. It says:
“Late on Friday the Trump administration granted exclusions from the steep reciprocal tariffs on smartphones and a set of other electronics products, a move seen as a big break for technology firms such as Apple, opens new tab and Dell Technologies, opens new tab that rely on imports from China. Trump’s back-and-forths on tariffs have kicked off a trade war with China and prompted the wildest swings on Wall Street since the COVID pandemic of 2020. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index is down more than 10% since Trump took office on January 20. Lutnick said Trump would enact ‘a special focus-type of tariff’ on smartphones, computers and other electronics products in a month or two, alongside sectoral tariffs targeting semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. He said those new levies would fall outside Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, under which levies on Chinese imports climbed to 125% this week. ‘He’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,’ Lutnick said in the interview on ABC, predicting that the levies would bring production of those products to the United States. ‘These are things that are national security, that we need to be made in America.’ With his comments, Lutnick appeared to go beyond what was communicated on Saturday, when a White House official told media that Trump would launch a new national security trade investigation into semiconductors soon that could lead to other new tariffs.”
Finally, I recommend going through this excellent thread by Ryan Hass on the Chinese view of US tariff policy. He summarises China’s policy response as:
Maintain composure and resolve
Avoid being isolated
Hit America where it hurts