Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visits to Brunei and the Philippines were of milestone significance to upgrade China’s ties with the two countries in the new era, a senior official told a press briefing hosted by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

His trip this time, lasting from Nov. 18 to 21, was not only Xi’s first visit to the two countries, but also the first visit to the two countries by a Chinese President in 13 years, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said.

Xi’s upcoming state visit to Brunei was a realization of historic mutual visits between the two heads of state in a short time span, Kong said, adding that this year marked the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic cooperative partnership between the pair of friendly neighbors.

During the visit, the two leaders would make an overall planning on where bilateral relations would go in the next step, he said.

Kong added that both sides were expected to publish a joint statement to intensify their joint construction of the Belt and Road as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

China and the Philippines were now increasingly uplifting their mutual political trust and moving in full swing to recover their cooperation, said Kong, stressing that the Philippines was a friendly neighbor and important partner of China.

The two countries will continue to deal with the South China Sea issue through dialogue and consultation and support each other on regional and multilateral occasions, according to the vice minister.

Leaders of the two countries would draw out new strategic plans on future bilateral relationship, comprehensively bolster pragmatic cooperation in all fields, and exchange in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern, he added.

A joint statement is going to be announced as the two sides are preparing cooperation documents on trade, infrastructure, and cultural exchanges, according to Kong.