China's VP to begin rare visit to Hanoi

A top Chinese official will make a rare political visit to Hanoi on Thursday and is scheduled to have talks with Vietnamese leaders amid lingering maritime tensions between the two neighbors.

The visit by Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Political Bureau, China's top leadership, will focus on interparty exchanges and practical cooperation ahead of a key Vietnam party election in January, according to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Zhang is scheduled to land in Hanoi on Thursday and meet Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as well as other top Vietnamese officials from the party and government.