Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun a significant diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, starting with Vietnam and continuing to Malaysia and Cambodia, aiming to reinforce China’s position as a stable trade partner amid rising tensions with the United States. This visit comes shortly after US President Donald Trump paused global tariffs for 90 days, refocusing the trade conflict primarily on China.

Xi is expected to present China as a defender of multilateral trade and regional cooperation, positioning it in contrast to the US’s unpredictable tariff policies. During his stay in Vietnam, the two countries plan to sign around 40 agreements spanning railways, agriculture, digital economy, and green energy. Vietnam recently approved an $8.3 billion railway project linking to China, to be partly financed by Chinese loans.

Despite growing economic ties – with China being Vietnam’s top trading partner – Southeast Asian nations remain cautious about appearing too close to Beijing, wary of potential US backlash and the risk of being overwhelmed by Chinese exports.

Amid past tensions in the South China Sea, Xi emphasized the importance of peaceful dialogue and regional stability, calling for both countries to manage differences through negotiation. His visit signals China’s strategic push to deepen influence in the region during US-China trade turbulence.