Xi's first overseas visits this year are of great significance: spokesperson

BEIJING -- The upcoming visits by President Xi Jinping to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia are his first trips abroad this year and hold significant importance for the overall development of China's relations with the three countries and ASEAN as a whole, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian told a daily press briefing that the visits are also expected to inject new momentum for peace and development in the region and the world at large.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong.

President Xi will also pay state visits to Malaysia and Cambodia from April 15 to 18, at the invitation of King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim and King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia.

Lin said China prioritizes its diplomatic efforts in its neighboring regions, emphasizing that China and Southeast Asia share a common destiny as good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

Recently, a central conference on work related to neighboring countries was successfully held, making it clear that China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy, and join hands with neighboring countries to foster friendly cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote joint development and revitalization, Lin noted.