At the invitation of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Trần Đại Quang,

President of China The president of China, officially the president of the People's Republic of China, is the List of state representatives of the People's Republic of China, state representative of the China, People's Republic of China. On its own, it is a Fig ...

and

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party The general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party ( zh, s=中国共产党中央委员会总书记, p=Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì Zǒngshūjì) is the leader of the Chinese Communist Part ...

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...

went to

Da Nang Da Nang or DanangSee also Danang Dragons (, ) is the fifth-largest city in Vietnam by municipal population. It lies on the coast of the Western Pacific Ocean of Vietnam at the mouth of the Hàn River, and is one of Vietnam's most important p ...

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

, from November 10–11, 2017, to attend the APEC Vietnam 2017. Then, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Vietnam and the

Laos Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...

from November 12–14, 2017. This is the first state visit by the top leaders of the

Chinese Communist Party The Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...

and

State State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

after the

19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics Nineteen is the eighth prime number. Number theory 19 forms a twin prime with 17, a cousin prime with 23, and a sexy prime with 13 ...

Background

Xi's visits have his dual capacity as the

as well as

in this diplomatic activity. In November 2015, Xi's first visit to Vietnam since he became the supreme leader of the Party and the State was in a dual capacity. On January 12, 2017,

Nguyễn Phú Trọng Nguyễn Phú Trọng ( ; 14 April 194419 July 2024) was a Vietnamese politician and political theorist who served as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 2011 until his death in 2024. As the head of the party's Secretaria ...

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam The general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (), simply and informally the party general secretary or just general secretary (, TBT), is the contemporary title for the holder of the highest office within the Commu ...

, visited China. General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to

is another annual exchange of visits between the top leaders of the two parties.

Vietnam

On the afternoon of November 10, General Secretary Xi Jinping arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang to attend APEC Vietnam 2017. General Secretary Xi attended the APEC Business Leaders Summit and delivered a keynote speech, attended two phases of the informal leaders' meeting and working luncheon, attended the Dialogue between APEC Leaders and ASEAN Leaders, and the Dialogue between APEC Leaders and Representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council. General Secretary Xi announced at the APEC meeting that China will host the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2018. Xi also met with Russian President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

during the period. On November 11, Xi met with

Prime Minister of Vietnam The prime minister of Vietnam () is the head of government of Vietnam who presides over the meetings of the Government (formerly the Council of Ministers). The prime minister directs the work of government members, and may propose deputy prime ...

Nguyễn Xuân Phúc Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (; born 20 July 1954) is a Vietnamese former politician who served as the 11th president of Vietnam from 2021 until his resignation in 2023 amidst a series of corruption scandals. He also was the seventh prime minister from ...

, where he urged the two neighbors to extend the breadth and depth of their comprehensive strategic cooperation. He also signed the Protocol on Upgrading the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement with

President of Chile The president of Chile (), officially the president of the Republic of Chile (), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Chile. The president is responsible for both Government of Chile, government administration and s ...

Michelle Bachelet Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (; born 29 September 1951) is a Chilean politician who served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018, becoming the first woman to hold the presidency. She was re-elected in December ...

. He also met with

President of South Korea The president of the Republic of Korea (), also known as the president of South Korea (), is the head of state and head of government of South Korea. The president directs the executive branch of the Government of South Korea, government and is ...

Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in (, ; born January 24, 1953) is a South Korean politician and former lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea from 2017 to 2022. Before his presidency, he served as the senior secretary for civil affairs and the Chief ...

President of the Philippines The president of the Philippines (, sometimes referred to as ) is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-ch ...

Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...

and

Prime Minister of Japan The is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its ministers of state. The prime minister also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Japan Self-Defense Force ...

Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe (21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. ...

. Upon departure from Da Nang, senior officials including Vietnamese government ministers and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,

Carrie Lam Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor ( Cheng; ; born 13 May 1957) is a retired Hong Kong politician who served as the fourth Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2017 to 2022, after serving as Chief Secretary for Administration for five years. After g ...

, saw them off at the airport. On November 12, General Secretary Xi fled from Da Nang to Hanoi for an official state visit to Vietnam. General Secretary Xi held talks with

, the

, at which the two sides reached a consensus on deepening the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of memorandums of cooperation on "

One Belt, One Road The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI or B&R), known in China as the One Belt One Road and sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the government of China in 2013 to invest in more t ...

" and " Two Corridors, One Circle", as well as documents in the fields of production capacity, energy, cross-border economic cooperation zones, e-commerce, human resources, economy and trade, finance, culture, health, information, social sciences and border defense. Later, General Secretary Xi met with the Chairman of

National Assembly of Vietnam The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (N.A.; ) is the Unicameralism, unicameral parliament and the highest body of state power of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vietnam. The National Assembly is the only branch of governmen ...

Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, with the two sides saying they will strengthen cooperation at all levels of the legislature. The two attended the inauguration and handover ceremony of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace and the opening ceremony of the Hanoi China Cultural Center. On November 13, Xi met again with

. After the meeting, the two went to

Ho Chi Minh (born ; 19 May 1890 – 2 September 1969), colloquially known as Uncle Ho () among other aliases and sobriquets, was a Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who served as the founder and first President of Vietnam, president of the ...

's former residence to continue their exchanges. General Secretary Xi paid homage to President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and laid a wreath. Then, General Secretary Xi held talks with

President of Vietnam The president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam () is the head of state of Vietnam, elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam from its delegates. Since Vietnam is a one-party state, candidates for the post are nominated by the Central Commit ...

Trần Đại Quang. On the same day General Secretary Xi ended his state visit to Vietnam, Trần Quốc Vượng, the permanent secretary of the Central Secretariat and head of the Central Inspection Committee, waited at the airport to see him off.

Laos

On November 13, General Secretary Xi arrived in

Vientiane Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...

, the capital of Laos on the banks of the Mekong River, beginning the state visit to Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Standing Secretary of the Central Secretariat and

Vice President of Laos The vice president of Laos is the political position in Laos created in 1996. The vice president is elected by the National Assembly of Laos. List of vice presidents The history of the office holders follows. Timeline See also * President ...

Phankham Viphavanh Phankham Viphavanh (; born 14 April 1951) is a Laotian politician, a member of the Politburo and the Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He became the Prime Minister of Laos, who was elected by the National Assembly of L ...

and the Secretary of the Vientiane Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Vientiane Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, and Deputy Prime Minister

Sonexay Siphandone Sonexay Siphandone (born 1966) is a Laotian politician who has served as the prime minister of Laos since 30 December 2022. A member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), he previously served as the deputy prime minister from 2016 to 2 ...

, greeted the Chinese delegation at the

Vadodara Airport Vadodara Airport is a customs airport and Indian Air Force base serving the city of Vadodara in Gujarat, India. It is located in the suburb of Harni, northeast of Vadodara. It is the third-busiest airport in Gujarat, after Ahmedabad and Surat ...

. On November 13, General Secretary Xi Jinping held talks with

Bounnhang Vorachit Bounnhang Vorachit (; born 15 August 1937) is a Laotian politician. He was previously General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos from 2016 to 2021. Early life Bounnhang Vorachit joined the Pathet Lao resistan ...

, the

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party is the office of the highest-ranking member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). Since the party's takeover in 1975, its leader has been the supreme lea ...

and

President of Laos The president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The current president is Thongloun Sisoulith, since 22 March 2021. He was previously elected as the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, ...

. The two sides agreed to accelerate the dovetailing of China's

Belt and Road Initiative The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI or B&R), known in China as the One Belt One Road and sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the government of China in 2013 to invest in more t ...

with Laos' strategy of "turning a land-locked country into a land-connected country". After the talks, Xi and Bounnhang witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in the areas of China-Laos economic corridor construction, infrastructure construction, digital Silk Road, science and technology, agriculture, electricity, human resources, finance and water conservancy. General Secretary Xi also held meeting with

Choummaly Sayasone Lieutenant General Choummaly Sayasone ( Lao: ຈູມມະລີ ໄຊຍະສອນ; born 6 March 1936) is a Laotian politician who was General Secretary (supreme leader) of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos ...

, former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and former State President, in Vientiane. On November 14, Xi Jinping met with

, the

and

again. After the meeting, Xi and Bounnhang witnessed the signing of the Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Strengthening Cooperation in the New Situation. Besides, Xi joined Bounnhang in Vientiane to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Mahoso General Hospital. General Secretary Xi also held talks with

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Thongloun Sisoulith Thongloun Sisoulith (born 10 November 1945) is a Laotian politician and historian who serves as the general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the seventh president of Laos since 2021. Thongloun was born and educated in Houa ...

and President of the National Assembly

Pany Yathotou Pany Yathotou (; born 18 February 1951) is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. She was the chairwoman and governor of the Bank of the Lao P.D.R., the country's central bank, from 1988 until 1997. Yathotou l ...

. Same day, Xi met with friends of the Pholsena family of Laos in Vientiane. The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Laos

Quinim Pholsena Quinim Pholsena (; 18 November 1915 – 1 April 1963) was a leftist politician and the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Laos from 1962 to 1963, under Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma. Early life Pholsena was born 18 November 1915, Pakse, Champas ...

, who was assassinated, and his wife seriously wounded in the 1962. Their children were sheltering in China at the time. Some of them enrolled in Beijing Bayi School and were classmates of Xi Jinping.

References

{{Xi Jinping China–Vietnam relations China–Laos relations Xi Jinping visits