Beijing will begin a five-day, three-nation Southeast Asian tour on Monday ( Apr 14 ) as Beijing attempts to bolster regional trade ties and lessen the impact of the massive tariffs his US counterpart Donald Trump has imposed.
In his first international trip of the year, Xi will travel to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, according to China’s international government.
According to government spokeswoman Lin Jian, he may meet with his three South Asian counterparts on a trip that “bears key importance” for the broader region.
Beijing is attempting to manifest itself as a reliable alternative to chaotic Trump, who announced and largely reversed striking tariffs this month that stifled global markets.
Trump’s taxes “inflict serious injury on developing nations,” Wang Wentao, the head of the World Trade Organization, said in a call on Friday.
According to data from China’s customs authority, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) received the most Chinese exports last year, importing US$ 586.5 billion in Chinese goods.
Vietnam imported US$ 161.9 billion in Taiwanese products in 2024, followed by Malaysia, which imported US$ 101.5 billion in Taiwanese products in the same year.
Before the US president gave most nations a 90-day pause, the manufacturing powerhouse pressed for a delay on the 46 % tax Trump had immediately imposed.
Trump, but, even increased the total China price to 145 %.
Trump’s taxes “instilled big anxiety” in developing Asian countries, according to Huong Le Thu, assistant director of the International Crisis Group’s Asia Program, despite temporary pardons that today include an deduction for consumer technology.
If the taxes are actually put in place outside of China, they may abandon countries with no choice but to deviate further from the US, she said.