Chinese president arrives in Vietnam for state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan wave to people upon their arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov 5, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANOI - Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Thursday, kicking off a two-day state visit to the neighboring country.

It is Xi's first visit to Vietnam as China'a head of state and top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi's plane touched down at Noi Bai International Airport at about 11:50 a.m. local time (0450 GMT).

Xi, together with his wife Peng Liyuan and other delegation members, were greeted by Dinh The Huynh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

"I hope my visit could help cement our traditional friendship, outline future development of our relations, and lift China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level," the president said in a written statement upon arrival.

China attaches great importance to its traditional friendship with Vietnam and views bilateral ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective, said Xi.

He lauded the smooth development of bilateral ties since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 65 years ago, saying their deepened partnership has brought tangible interests for the two peoples and made important contribution to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi recalled the April visit to China by Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, saying the consensus reached between the two sides is now being implemented and the bilateral relationship is moving forward to the building of China-Vietnam community of common destiny.

Xi said he is looking forward to having in-depth exchanges of view with Trong, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and other Vietnamese leaders on the relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as on international and regional issues of common concern.

Xi also said he hopes to have an extensive contact with Vietnamese people during his visit.