General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his entourage arrive at Beijing International Airport mid-day January 12 for the start of a 4-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives the red-carpet treatment as he descends from his jet onto the tarmac.

Song Tao, Head of the International Liaison Department under the Chinese Party Central Committee is on hand to greet the General Secretary with a bouquet of flowers on the tarmac at the Beijing International Airport.

This is the first visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong since his re-election by the 12th National Party Congress.

The visit comes on the cusp of the New Lunar Year of the Rooster and the 67th anniversary of ties between the two countries.

Chinese honour guard stands to full attention as numerous Chinese and Vietnamese officials greet the Party Secretary upon his arrival at the Beijing International Airport.