China's vice president to visit Thailand next week

Mr Xi, tipped to take over China's presidency when Hu Jintao steps down next year, will visit from Dec 22 to 24.

His visit to Thailand has been rescheduled several times, with dates changed due to domestic political turbulence, diplomatic sources said.

Mr Xi will meet Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and they will witness the signing ceremony of agreements on agriculture, investment, a high-speed train, and Mekong River cooperation.

Discussions on Mekong collaboration will likely to refer to the 13 Chinese sailors murdered in early October on the river near the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet, government sources said.