Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi as he started a state visit to the Southeast Asian nation.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. Noting that the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future is faced with new opportunities, Xi called on the two sides to uphold their original aspiration of friendship, keep in mind their common mission and seize the opportunities of the time.

Xi said he looks forward to using this visit as an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views with the Vietnamese side on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-Vietnam relations and on international and regional issues of common concern.

The two-day tour is Xi's fourth state visit to Vietnam. During his state visit to the neighboring country in 2023, the two sides announced to work for a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, guiding the relations between the two parties and two countries to a new phase.

Connected by mountains and waters, Xi said the two socialist countries have been in each other's company in striving for national independence and liberation, forming the traditional friendship between the two countries that is portrayed as "so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers."

The two countries have learned from each other and walked together to explore the socialism that meets their respective conditions, thus showing the world the bright prospects of the socialist system, he said.

Xi said China was pleased to see that the Communist Party of Vietnam is guiding its people in solidarity to strive toward the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country respectively.

It is believed that under the leadership of the CPV led by To Lam, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, Vietnam will certainly take a socialist path that suits its own conditions and make new ground in the development of the cause of the CPV and Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam is the first stop of the Chinese president's five-day visit to Southeast Asia, which will also take him to Malaysia and Cambodia.