China's Li Peng visits Vietnam

China's Li Peng visits Vietnam

HANOI (Reuters): China's parliamentary leader Li Peng began a three-day visit to neighboring Vietnam on Friday aimed at building on improved ties with a country that is both a communist ally and a traditional regional rival.

Li, the chairman of China's National People's Congress, will stay until Monday on what is described by both sides as an "official friendship visit".

Li's trip follows a visit to Beijing last month by a delegation from Vietnam's National Assembly, during which he noted the similar political conditions in the two countries and their focus on reform and economic development.

Li is to meet Vietnam's leadership trio of Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh, state President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and to visit a port in the border province of Quang Ninh.