Xi arrives in Hanoi for state visit to Vietnam

China

Xi arrives in Hanoi for state visit to Vietnam

2025-04-14 20:35 Last Updated At：04-15 14:37

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, on Monday for a state visit.

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong, Xi is on a state visit to Vietnam from Monday to Tuesday.

Upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport, Xi was warmly greeted by President Luong Cuong and other Vietnamese Party and state leaders.

Flowers were presented to the Chinese president, while honor guards saluted on both sides of the red carpet.

Local youths dressed in national costumes staged performances and waved flags of the two countries and two parties to welcome Xi.

In a written statement, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the brotherly CPV, the Vietnamese government and people on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and people.

Noting that this year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, Xi said the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in steadfast pursuit of realizing the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country, respectively, gaining increasing global and regional influence and making gratifying achievements in socialist industrialization and modernization.

Xi noted that as socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, China and Vietnam have formed a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

During the arduous years of striving for national independence and liberation, the two sides fought shoulder to shoulder and supported each other, forging a profound friendship, said Xi.

In exploring a socialist path suited to their respective national conditions, the two sides have learned from each other, advanced hand in hand, and jointly demonstrated to the world the bright prospects of the socialist system, he said.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Vietnam, and is the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, bringing new opportunities for advancing the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, he noted.

Xi said that he looks forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on issues concerning ties between the two parties and countries that have a global impact, determine future direction, and possess strategic significance, as well as on international and regional issues of common concern.

The Chinese leader added that he also expects to take his visit as an opportunity to work with the Vietnamese side to draw up a new blueprint for the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

As Xi traveled from the airport to his hotel, local people and representatives of Chinese institutions and students in the country waved flags of the two parties and two countries and held red banners with slogans depicting close bilateral ties along the roadside to welcome him.

China lists 16 pilot cities for "film-plus" consumption to drive economic growth

China has announced 16 "film-plus" consumption pilot cities to advance economic and social development by expanding movie viewership and innovating cinema-related spending.

The pilot program focuses on cultivating new growth in film attendance, upgrading cinema consumption models, and expanding the film derivatives market. By integrating the silver screen with broader retail and service sectors, the initiative seeks to turn the popularity of films into a sustainable economic driver. As one of the selected pilot cities, Wuxi in east China's Jiangsu Province has unveiled a promotional campaign to stimulate local consumption through cinema-related incentives for the upcoming Spring Festival, which begins on February 17 this year. The campaign includes 12 million yuan (about 1.74 million U.S. dollars) in movie vouchers, along with 8 million yuan in "film-plus" benefits covering food delivery, dining, hotels, and transportation.

"I intend to see 'Pegasus 3' during the Spring Festival. Upon completion, the ticket stub entitles me to discounts at a designated restaurant. Wishing everyone a joyful and happy new year," said Li Huiru, an audience in Wuxi.

"During the Spring Festival holiday, audiences can claim a 20-yuan discount voucher for a single ticket on designated third-party platforms starting at 10:00 every day," said Ren Yan, an assistant at the marketing department of Wuxi Big World Cineplex.

Meanwhile, Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province has leveraged its large-scale film and television production base, the Oriental Movie Metropolis, to attract a number of major productions, including the "The Wandering Earth" and "Creation of the Gods" film series, for on-location shooting. The film industry has also driven local cultural and tourism consumption, drawing many visitors to "check in" at filming locations.

To further stimulate consumption, local authorities have incorporated movie stubs into initiatives supporting the broader local economy.

"We have launched a series of ticket-stub promotional activities. Consumers can follow the instructions on designated platforms to upload their ticket stubs and generate coupons. These benefits can be used for extra discounts at more than 700 local merchants in Qingdao, including restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, and shops," said Zhang Xiaoyu, an official with the film division of the Publicity Department of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee.