President Xi embarks on strategic Southeast Asia tour, reaffirms China’s commitment to open trade and regional partnership

Department of Research, Studies and International News 14-04-2025

As global economic uncertainties mount due to rising unilateralism and aggressive tariff policies, Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a high-profile tour of Southeast Asia, reaffirming China’s position as a dependable and cooperative trade partner in the region. The five-day diplomatic tour, beginning in Vietnam and extending to Malaysia and Cambodia, marks a significant moment for regional cooperation and comes at a time when the global trading system is being strained by disruptive policies from Washington.

Ahead of his arrival in Hanoi on Monday, President Xi penned an article in Nhan Dan, Vietnam’s official newspaper, where he emphasized the futility of trade conflicts and tariff wars. “Trade wars and tariff wars yield no winners,” Xi wrote, warning against the rise of protectionism that is threatening the delicate balance of global supply chains. He further stressed the importance of defending multilateralism and ensuring the stability and openness of the international economic environment.

In sharp contrast to the United States’ increasingly isolationist stance, Xi presented China as a champion of inclusive and sustainable globalization. “China will persist in high-level openness,” he wrote, “creating more opportunities for the world, and contributing to the shared development of countries through its own high-quality development.” His message comes as reassurance to Southeast Asian nations looking for stable, long-term economic partners amid a backdrop of uncertainty caused by Washington’s unpredictable trade maneuvers.

Under President Xi’s leadership, China has emerged as the single most significant trade partner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the leading individual trade partner for Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Vietnam, in particular, has seen a dramatic surge in imports from China, which rose by over 30 percent in 2024 to reach $144 billion, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. This growth highlights the deepening integration between China and Southeast Asia and underlines China’s role as an indispensable player in the regional economy.

The timing of Xi’s visit is telling. It follows a new wave of punitive tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has escalated trade tensions by slapping a baseline tariff of 10% on dozens of nations, many in Asia, and levying even steeper duties of 25% on targeted sectors such as vehicles, steel, and aluminum. A 145% tariff specifically aimed at Chinese exports underscores the aggressive posture Washington continues to take toward Beijing, despite recent announcements of temporary pauses on certain trade measures affecting other partners.

What’s particularly striking is that while the U.S. continues to unsettle global markets with erratic policy shifts and protectionist rhetoric, China is actively engaging with neighboring countries to strengthen economic ties and regional cooperation. Xi’s Southeast Asia tour is a clear demonstration of Beijing’s intent to consolidate partnerships built on mutual benefit, respect, and a shared vision of prosperity.

Following his visit to Vietnam, President Xi will travel to Malaysia from Tuesday through Thursday, before concluding his trip in Cambodia. In each of these countries, China’s message remains consistent: partnership, development, and cooperation. Beijing is keen to solidify its position not merely as a trade partner but as a regional anchor offering a stable, future-oriented model for growth that respects sovereignty and prioritizes long-term mutual gains.

China’s approach stands in sharp contrast to the transactional nature of U.S. economic diplomacy, which many in the region view as unpredictable and self-serving. By continuing to invest in multilateral platforms and bilateral partnerships across Asia, Beijing is sending a clear signal: China is not only open for business, it is ready to lead responsibly.

As Southeast Asia looks toward the future, President Xi’s visit offers both symbolic and practical assurance. It highlights a path forward where collaboration, not confrontation, defines international engagement. Amid global uncertainties, China’s steadfast commitment to openness, cooperation, and mutual development is a welcome counterbalance to the instability of Western economic nationalism.