Vietnamese President To Lam arrived in China on Tuesday for his first overseas state visit since assuming the presidency while retaining his position as Communist Party General Secretary — a consolidation of power analysts say strengthens Hanoi's hand in international diplomacy. The visit reflects a broader strategic shift formalised at Vietnam's party congress in January, which elevated foreign affairs to a core national priority for the first time, as the country positions itself as a more proactive geopolitical actor amid global uncertainty. Vietnam is also preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and is set to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in coming years, underscoring its ambitions as a rising middle power in the region.