(VOVWORLD) - China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Vietnam until Monday after attending the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang city. The visit, made at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang, is expected to create more favorable conditions for stable and healthy relations between the two neighbors.
 China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is visiting Vietnam after attending the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (Photo: VOV) |
The visit, the first overseas trip by President Xi Jinping after the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China, demonstrates the appreciation of the Chinese Party, State and Mr. Xi for Vietnam-China relations and their support for Vietnam’s hosting of the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Vietnam and China have maintained a regular exchange of high-level visits, which play a crucial role in shaping the direction of bilateral ties. 2015 was the first time the two countries’ Party General Secretaries exchanged reciprocal visits within one year. Earlier this year, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong paid a state visit to China, followed by a state visit by President Tran Dai Quang. Mr. Quang also attended the “One belt, one road” forum in Beijing.
Last year, Vietnam became China’s biggest trade partner in ASEAN and 8th biggest trade partner in the world. From January to September, two-way trade reached 83 billion, up more than 20%, and is forecast to hit 100 billion USD this year. As of September, nearly 1,800 China-invested projects were operating in Vietnam with a combined capital of 12 billion USD.
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 Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung talked to VOV
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Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung explained why Vietnam has become increasingly attractive to Chinese investors. “Vietnam and China are enjoying fruitful relations. China is expanding trade ties with all countries around the world including Vietnam. Vietnam’s political stability and its determination to integrate further into the global community and improve the investment and business climate have been acknowledged by China and other countries.”
President Xi delivered speeches at the APEC CEO summit, the APEC-ASEAN Informal Dialogue, and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, focusing on globalization, multilateral trade, economic connectivity, and a free trade area for the Asia-Pacific region.
 Doctor Shang Feng of the China Foreign Trade University |
Representatives of 300 Chinese business leaders attended the 2017 APEC CEO summit. Doctor Shang Feng of the China Foreign Trade University said: “Party leader and President Xi’s visit to Vietnam is of paramount importance. More agreements on trade, investment and tourism cooperation will be signed on this occasion”.