Chinese President Xi Jinping and his spouse arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday for a two-day visit and was offered an official welcome ceremony with 21-cannon salute, the highest level for a head of state.
The welcome ceremony was hosted by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse.
The visit by Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is his third Vietnam trip as China’s highest leader. Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Secretariat and Xi’s right hand in the CPC, is also in the entourage.
The visit comes one year after the historic visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who was the first foreign guest after the 20th National Congress of the CPC.
The visit takes place when Vietnam and China are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Bilateral ties are set to be elevated and a large number of agreements in a wide range of sectors will be signed during Xi’s stay.
Following the welcome ceremony, the two leaders held official talks.
Xi earlier was welcomed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the airport.