A welcoming ceremony is held at a port in Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Monday, as a Vietnamese frigate docks at the port. The vessel is part of a Vietnamese naval ship formation that arrived on Monday and is participating in the 10th China-Vietnam border defense friendship exchange event, which also takes place in Vietnam's Quang Ninh Province. See story, page 4

Chinese and Vietnamese ministers of foreign affairs, public security and national defense pose for a group photo at the first ministerial meeting of the China-Vietnam "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday. The ministers jointly chaired the meeting. See story, page 3