HANOI, Nov. 12 -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the inauguration and handover ceremony of Vietnam-China Friendship Palace here on Sunday.

The palace, occupying an area of 13,800 square meters, is a signature China-sponsored project in Vietnam.

When Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived at the palace, he was greeted by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, at the entrance and welcomed by representatives of Chinese enterprises and Vietnamese young people.

Xi presented a "golden key" to Ngan after they watched a video introducing the palace.

Xi and Ngan also inaugurated the Hanoi China culture center which will operate in the Palace.