Chinese President Begins Southeast Asia Tour Amid Trade War
Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun his first overseas trip of the year with a state visit to Vietnam.
He is embarking on a Southeast Asian tour aimed at strengthening regional economic ties.
During the visit, Xi warned against protectionism and trade wars, stating there are “no winners” in such conflicts.
According to Chinese state media, Xi arrived in Hanoi on Monday to a warm welcome.
His trip to Vietnam is the first stop on a tour that will also take him to Malaysia and Cambodia, as China hopes to cushion the economic effect of U.S. tariffs while presenting itself as a reliable trade partner.
In a statement reported by China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi said he anticipated an “in-depth exchange of views” with Vietnamese leaders on issues with global implications.
He called for safeguarding multilateral trade, maintaining stable global supply chains, and fostering an open, cooperative international trade environment.
In an article posted on Vietnam’s state-run Nhan Dan newspaper, Xi reinforced his stance against trade protectionism, a government’s policy of restricting international trade in order to help domestic industries.
“A trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere,” he stated.
Beijing’s message comes as the U.S., under President Donald Trump, continues to implement and adjust tariffs that have rattled global markets, imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese imports.
Vietnamese President To Lam, in an article on the government’s portal, affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to deepening ties with China.
“Vietnam is always ready to join hands with China to make cooperation between the two countries more substantive, profound, balanced, and sustainable,” he wrote.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son revealed that approximately 40 cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.
In 2024, Vietnam emerged as China’s top trade partner in Southeast Asia, importing $161.9bn worth of goods, followed by Malaysia at $101.5bn.
Despite close economic relations, China and Vietnam have ongoing disputes in the South China Sea. However, both countries, led by communist parties, share a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, according to AFP.
Vietnam maintains a diplomatic balancing act often described as “bamboo diplomacy”, seeking good relations with both the U.S. and China.
In his article, Xi expressed confidence that maritime disputes can be managed through peaceful dialogue.
“With vision, we are fully capable of properly settling maritime issues through consultation and negotiation,” he wrote.
After concluding his two-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, Xi will travel to Malaysia for a three-day state visit before travelling to Cambodia on Thursday.
Chinese President Begins Southeast Asia Tour Amid Trade War is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
