<span style="color: #222222;">China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam this morning for his first visit in six years, as he seeks to counter the United States growing influence with the communist nation. Speaking on his arrival at Hanoi's airport, President Xi said he will hold talks with Vietnamese leaders on the overall, strategic, and directional issues of China-Vietnam relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, to push bilateral relations into a new stage. Mr Xi will meet the leader of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, later today.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Vietnam and China, both ruled by communist parties, already share a "comprehensive strategic partnership", Vietnam's highest diplomatic status. Vietnam and United States also upgraded their relationship to the same level when US President Joe Biden visited in September. President Biden's visit was part of US efforts around the world to contain China's rising economic power and to secure supplies of crucial materials needed for high-tech manufacturing.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Vietnam also shares US concerns about Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea, but it also has close economic ties with China.</span><br />