China, Vietnam sign agreements on supply chains, railway cooperation

China and Vietnam signed dozens of cooperation agreements Monday, strengthening ties between the communist-run countries after Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned that protectionism "leads nowhere" and that a trade war would have "no winners".

Xi is in Vietnam for the first leg of a Southeast Asia tour, as Beijing tries to present itself as a stable alternative to an erratic US President Donald Trump, who announced -- and then mostly reversed -- sweeping tariffs this month.

The Chinese president was welcomed to Hanoi Monday with a 21-canon salute, a guard of honour and rows of flag-waving children at the presidential palace, before holding talks with Vietnam's top leaders, including General Secretary To Lam.