President Xi Jinping on Thursday held a series of bilateral meetings with visiting foreign leaders in Beijing, stressing efforts to promote peace and multilateralism, a day after they attended China's V-Day commemorations.

In his talks with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, Xi said the two countries must jointly safeguard the outcomes of the victory in the Second World War, and uphold international fairness and justice.

The president noted that more countries are realising that only unity and self-strengthening can overcome unilateralism and the law of the jungle.

Xi also said the Global Governance Initiative he proposed at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin is aimed at promoting a more just and equitable system.

Cuong, for his part, said Hanoi will firmly develop relations with Beijing, which he stressed are of strategic significance to Vietnam.

Xi also met Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and pledged Beijing's support for Havana's "just struggle" against interference and blockade.

This refers to the economic embargo which the United States imposed on the Caribbean nation in 1960.

In another bilateral meeting, Xi and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the upgrading of their countries' relations to an all-weather community with a shared future.

Xi called for enhanced cooperation in infrastructure construction, mining, investment and trade.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the president also met the leaders of Slovakia, Serbia, the Republic of Congo and Laos.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing that Xi will hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who also attended China's V-Day commemorations on Wednesday.

"The two... leaders will hold talks and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-DPRK relations and issues of common concern," Guo said.

"China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and enhance exchanges and cooperation with the DPRK, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and advance the respective socialist causes and the traditional friendly cooperative relations between China and the DPRK."

It's not immediate clear when the talks will take place. (Agencies)