VIENTIANE, Laos -- Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, arrived in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Sunday for a state visit aimed at promoting bilateral ties in the new century.

Hu flew in from the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi after paying a state visit to the country and after attending the two-day 14th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

During his stay in Vientiane, Hu will discuss ways of expanding cooperation between China and the Southeast Asian nation.

In recent years, China and Laos have maintained exchanges of high-level visits and made remarkable achievements in cooperation in various sectors.

Hu will end his visit to Laos Monday and continue his four-nation Asia tour, which will also take him to India and Pakistan.