Chinese Party General Secretary, President Xi Jinping arrives in Hanoi for state visit

The airport was awash in red, the colors of the flags of both Vietnam and China, while traditional drum performances added to the ceremonial atmosphere.

Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong arrived at the airport and presided over the welcome ceremony for the Chinese leader.

This marked the first time the two leaders had met in Vietnam as heads of state of their respective countries.

The welcome was further heightened by the presence of 200 performers from the People's Police Academy’s drum ensemble and 54 young women dressed in traditional costumes representing Vietnam’s ethnic groups.

Accompanying the Chinese leader is a high-level delegation comprising senior Chinese officials, including several members of the Politburo and heads of key ministries and departments, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The Chinese delegation include Cai Qi, Politburo Standing Committee member, Secretary of the Secretariat, and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party; Wang Yi, Politburo Member, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Xiaohong, Secretary of the Secretariat, State Councilor, and Minister of Public Security; and Liu Jianchao, Central Committee Member and Head of the International Liaison Department.

Also among the delegation are Dong Jun, Central Committee Member and Minister of National Defense; Zheng Shanjie, Central Committee Member and Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Wentao, Central Committee Member and Minister of Commerce; Tang Fengyu, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office; He Wei, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam; Sun Weidong, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Luo Zhaohui, Director-General of the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

During the visit, Xi is set to have high-level talks with Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Cuong.

He is also slated to meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to discuss strategic orientations and major initiatives aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation.

In addition, the Chinese leader will participate in other major diplomatic activities, said Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

Since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2008, particularly following a series of historically significant visits, Vietnam-China relations have seen continued positive development.