Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, arrived in this Vietnamese city on Friday for the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and a state visit to the southeast Asian country.[Special coverage]
Xi delivered a speech at the APEC CEO Summit later this afternoon, and is attending a dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council, as well as an informal dialogue with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
On the sidelines of the APEC events, the Chinese president is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries on Saturday.
In a written speech delivered upon arrival at the airport, Xi extended the sincere regards and best wishes to the brotherly Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Vietnamese government and people on behalf of the CPC, Chinese government and people.
Describing China and Vietnam as friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Xi said the two countries share similar political systems, development paths and an interrelated future.
He said China and Vietnam have witnessed an ever increasing cooperation and deepening relationship since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 67 years ago, which have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributed a lot to the peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
"The consensus reached by leaders of our two parties and countries has been implemented step by step, and the China-Vietnam strategic cooperation is moving toward new breadth and depth," Xi said.
"The Chinese side highly values its relationship with Vietnam," Xi said, noting that he is looking forward to meeting with Vietnamese leaders and people of various sectors to have in-depth exchange of views on the relations between the two parties and countries, as well as on international and regional issues of mutual concern, thus consolidating the traditional friendship, planning for the future development and lifting the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height.
Xi was received by high-ranking Vietnamese government officials at the airport. Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who is in Da Nang for the APEC meeting, also went to the airport to greet Xi.
This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Week is held under the theme of "Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future."
In a signed article published in Nhan Dan, the official newspaper of the CPV, Xi wished Vietnam a great success hosting the APEC meeting, saying that China looks forward to a "highly productive meeting that contributes to the common development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific."
The overseas trip is Xi's first after the 19th CPC National Congress. After attending the APEC meeting in Da Nang on Nov. 10-11, he will pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos on Nov. 12-14.
The APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.
APEC currently has 21 member economies, namely, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. (updated)
