HANOI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command Timothy Keating will arrive in Hanoi on Dec. 13 on his first Vietnam trip since taking office to touch upon security issues, local newspaper Young People reported Tuesday.

    Keating is scheduled to discuss with Vietnamese senior officials from the ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, and the National Assembly, the country's top legislature, about security issues of mutual concern.

    He took the helm of the U.S. forces in the Pacific in March.