Xi to attend welcome ceremony hosted by Vietnam's top leader To Lam

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to attend a welcome ceremony hosted by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam at the presidential palace square on Monday.

Xi arrived in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, earlier in the day for a two-day state visit, at the invitation of To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.

During the visit, Xi is scheduled to hold talks with To Lam and meet with Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

Vietnam is the first leg of Xi's current three-nation Southeast Asia tour, which will also take him to Malaysia and Cambodia for state visits from Tuesday to Friday, at the invitation of King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim, and King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia.

Xi's Vietnam visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Vietnam.

Xi to attend welcome ceremony hosted by Vietnam's top leader To Lam

Several dozen people are feared dead and around 100 injured Thursday after an explosion at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, local police said.

Those injured in the blast and subsequent fire suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospitals in Sion, capital of Valais canton, as well as in other cities, Valais Canton Police Chief Frederic Gisler said at a press conference.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion, but authorities have ruled out an attack.

Helicopters and ambulances, including some from abroad, rushed to the scene, as the intensive care units and operating rooms of local hospitals are at full capacity, said local officials at the press conference.

Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, has arrived at the scene of the accident.

Dozens dead, 100 injured after explosion in Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana: police