Overview

• Xi Jinping began his Southeast Asia tour in Vietnam, with plans to visit Malaysia and Cambodia to strengthen regional economic ties.
• The Chinese president criticized U.S. tariffs, set at a prohibitive 145%, calling protectionism a policy that benefits no one.
• Xi highlighted the importance of preserving multilateral trade systems and ensuring global supply chain stability in light of U.S.-China trade tensions.
• China is pushing for dialogue to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including conflicts with Vietnam over the Paracel Islands.
• Southeast Asia remains a crucial region for Chinese exports, with ASEAN countries being the top recipients of Chinese goods last year.