Chinese president leaves for APEC meeting, state visits to Vietnam, Laos

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Friday for the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam.

After attending the APEC meeting in Da Nang, Xi will pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos.

It is Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October.

Xi's entourage includes Ding Xuexiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs; and Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor.