Xi's Vietnam, Singapore trip to boost China-ASEAN ties

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming trip to Vietnam and Singapore will be a big boost to China-ASEAN ties, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said Friday at a media briefing.

Xi's trip, scheduled from Nov 5 to 7, comes ahead of the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by year end.

As ASEAN member states, Vietnam and Singapore are China's friendly neighbors and important cooperation partners, Liu said.

Singapore took the rotating seat as coordinator for China-ASEAN relations this August.

Praising the reciprocal visits by Chinese and Singaporean top leaders, Liu said ties between the countries are a pioneering example for China-ASEAN relations.

Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam made a state visit to China from June 29 to July 4.

China is now Singapore's top trading partner, while Singapore is China's largest source of investment.

Xi will meet with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and attend the signing ceremonies of cooperation pacts on finance, education, technology and urban governance.

Xi's Singapore trip, from Nov 6 to 7, is scheduled for after his state visit to Vietnam.

"This will be his first visit to Vietnam as the top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the head of state," said Li Jun, senior official of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi will meet with the country's leaders, including general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

China and Vietnam will sign a host of agreements on areas such as party-to-party cooperation, infrastructure, economy, trade, investment,culture and education.

"Despite the short time span of the visit, the achievements are expected to be fruitful," Li said.

Hailing the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, Li said Xi's visit comes at a new stage of bilateral ties, as the two sides agreed to work together to link China's Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

"Xi's upcoming trip will be a successful visit and advance the development of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," Li said.