Vietnamese and Chinese officials are preparing for a possible visit from President Xi Jinping to Hanoi at the end of October or early November, on the heels of US President Joe Biden's trip in September, four people familiar with the plans said.
The visit would underline the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub's growing strategic importance, as big powers jostle for influence in the region amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Work is under way on a joint statement that would be issued during the visit, four people informed about the negotiations told Reuters.
The visit has not been announced and could still be called off or postponed, but logistical arrangements have been explored.
Washington upgraded its ties with Hanoi in September, elevating the United States to the same top tier as China's in Vietnam after a prolonged diplomatic push.