State visits to enhance mutual understanding

President Xi Jinping will start on Monday his first overseas trip this year with state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, to promote friendly cooperation and enhance mutual understanding and trust with neighboring countries, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

Expectations are high that Xi's upcoming five-day visit to Southeast Asia will provide new impetus for peace and development in the region and beyond.

The visit also comes days after China reiterated its commitment to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy, at a central conference on work related to neighboring countries.