Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dec. 22, 2011. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

PROMOTE PRAGMATIC COOPERATION

To strengthen the pragmatic cooperation between the world's second largest economy and its two neighbors was one of the priorities of Xi's trip, as those countries are mutually important trade partners, especially at a time when the global economic recovery remains sluggish.

Xi reiterated China's willingness to advance bilateral cooperation, which has proved fruitful, as China signed more than 10 cooperation agreements with Vietnam and Thailand on trade, finance, law, health, press, and disaster reduction and prevention.

Xi said China and Vietnam should deepen pragmatic cooperation to achieve mutual benefits. The Vietnamese side said it is willing to work with China to promote cooperation in various areas for a greater push to the bilateral ties.

China and Vietnam will strive to meet the new target of promoting their bilateral annual trade volume to a high of 60 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.

Regarding China-Thailand ties, Xi said the two nations should explore new ways to inject new vitality into their relations. The Thai government voiced its willingness to seek a stronger increase in bilateral trade, investment and tourism.

The two countries agreed to ink a deal on a China-Thailand five-year plan of trade and economic cooperation as soon as possible, which proposed a trade target of 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.

They also vowed to promote cooperation in railway, finance, disaster reduction and prevention, maritime and military affairs, and law enforcement.