China seeks closer trade ties with Vietnam during minister's Hanoi visit
• Chinese Commerce Minister pledged deeper trade ties with Vietnam during meeting with Vietnamese PM
• Trade cooperation to include strategic areas like digital economy, green development, cross-border e-commerce
• China and US competing for influence among Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam
• Vietnamese and Chinese officials prepared for potential Xi Jinping visit to Hanoi in late Oct/early Nov
• Chinese commerce minister also met with Ho Chi Minh City's communist party secretary