The chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The two leaders reaffirmed that their countries will strive to strengthen relations.

Vietnam's state-run media says Hue stressed during the talks on Monday that developing ties with China is his country's top foreign policy priority.

Xi reportedly said Beijing places great importance on relations with Hanoi, and that he wants to promote both party and state relations in a deeper and substantive manner.

Vietnam has seen two presidents resign in just over a year amid an anti-corruption drive. Observers say with international attention focused on Vietnam's political situation, Hanoi is placing importance on its relations with its largest trading partner, China.

The meeting on Monday came as the Philippines moves to strengthen security cooperation with Japan, the United States and other countries in connection with a dispute in the South China Sea.

Analysts say China hopes to drive a wedge between the grouping by stressing its friendship with Vietnam. But Hanoi and Beijing are also locked in a territorial spat in the maritime region.