China's president kicks off two-day visit to Vietnam

BEIJING

China's President Xi Jinping embarked on a two-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday, his first to the southern neighbor as head of state and leader of China's Communist Party.

State news agency Xinhua reported that Xi's trip took place at the invite of Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

"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 upon arrival in capital Hanoi.

During the two-day trip, Xi will meet Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and with Vietnam's President.

Xi will also address the Vietnamese parliament about strengthening relations.

The two countries are expected to sign agreements about infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, culture and education.

Xi's visit came two days after Japan sent two boats to Vietnam to be used as patrol vessels amid reported demonstrations of force by China in the South China Sea.

The Japanese government provided two second-hand fishing boats to the coast guard to strengthen Vietnam's law enforcement capability.

China continues to defend its maritime boundary claims in the Sea in response to United States warships sailing near the Spratly Islands -- where China has reportedly constructed two artificial islands on Subi and Mischief reefs.

The Chinese military released photos late Sunday showing fighter jets flying over the sea near Vietnamese waters.

Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines have also laid claims to areas of the Spratly archipelago.

China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for the last 11 years, while Vietnam has become China's second biggest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trading partner.

Following his Vietnam trip, Xi will visit Singapore Nov. 6-7, upon the invitation of Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam.