Vietnam's new leader To Lam met with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, his first visit since taking office.

The meeting underscores the strong relationship between the two countries, who maintain robust economic and trade ties despite occasional boundary disputes in the energy-rich South China Sea.

According to President Xi last week, the meeting “fully reflects the great importance he attaches to the development of ties between both parties and countries.”

Lam arrived in Guangzhou, a southern province of China, on Sunday for a three-day visit, which will include meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials, Reuters reports.

During his stay in Guangzhou, Lam visited several Chinese sites associated with former President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary activities.

In December last year, China and Vietnam signed over a dozen agreements during Xi's visit to Vietnam. 

Although the details of these agreements were not disclosed, they included provisions for enhancing railway cooperation and development, investing in various sectors, and establishing communication protocols to manage unforeseen incidents in the South China Sea.

In a detailed joint declaration, the two countries committed to enhancing cross-border railway connectivity. They identified three rail projects, including one linking the mountainous Lao Cai in Vietnam's northwest to the port city of Haiphong, and a potential project connecting two coastal cities to Haiphong, the Reuters report goes on to add.

The declaration highlighted ongoing support for the railway companies of both countries to enhance cooperation and improve the efficiency of Vietnamese goods passing through China.

In addition, the statement also referenced collaboration on various projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative and stressed investment cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy, the digital economy, green development, and other areas.

China and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 1950 and formed a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2008. This partnership was further bolstered five years later to include a broader range of shared international and regional concerns.