New Delhi, April 16 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for prioritizing infrastructure connectivity with Vietnam and more cooperation on emerging fields like artificial intelligence and semiconductors during a meeting Wednesday with Vietnam's newly elected president, the state broadcaster said.

Vietnamese President To Lam's four-day trip to China, which began on Tuesday, is his first overseas trip since he was elected last week. That signaled Lam's foreign policy priorities and stronger ties between the two Communist nations.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi said defending the socialist system and the Communist Party's ruling position is the greatest common strategic interest between the two parties during their meeti...