{"id":28688,"date":"2025-04-16T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=28688"},"modified":"2025-04-15T21:46:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T18:46:21","slug":"chinas-xi-visits-vietnam-malaysia-and-cambodia-to-promote-free-trade-and-regional-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/chinas-xi-visits-vietnam-malaysia-and-cambodia-to-promote-free-trade-and-regional-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"China’s Xi visits Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia to promote free trade and regional cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a strategic move to bolster China’s influence in Southeast Asia amidst escalating trade tensions with the United States, President Xi Jinping has embarked on a diplomatic tour encompassing Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tour aims to position China as a pillar of “stability and certainty” in a region grappling with the repercussions of recent U.S. tariff policies.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the first stop of his multinational tour, President Xi arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 14, 2025, where he was welcomed by President Luong Cuong. Xi conducted a series of high-level meetings and the signing of 45 cooperation agreements spanning supply chains, artificial intelligence, joint maritime patrols, and railway development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Trade and investment agreements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In discussions with Vietnam\u2019s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, Xi emphasized the mutual benefits of economic globalization and the importance of resisting unilateral trade practices. He stated that both nations should “jointly oppose unilateral bullying acts, uphold the global free trade system, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable.”\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The two sides should strengthen cooperation in production and supply chains,” Xi said in an article in Nhandan, the newspaper of Vietnam’s Communist Party, posted ahead of his arrival on Monday. He also urged more trade and stronger ties with Hanoi on artificial intelligence and the green economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A significant highlight of the visit was the agreement to assess the feasibility of developing two new railway lines connecting Guangxi to Hanoi and Shenzhen to Haiphong. China has committed to funding the feasibility studies for these projects, signaling a deepening of infrastructure collaboration between the two countries. Lam underscored the priority of rail development and encouraged China to offer concessional loans to support these initiatives.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the memorandums of understanding focused on enhancing collaboration between the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the latter of which plays a key role in issuing certificates of origin for export goods.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 14, 2025. (Image Credit: Xinhua\/Xie Huanchi)<\/sup><\/em>

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Pressure from the US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facing mounting pressure from Washington, Vietnam has begun tightening regulations on certain aspects of its trade with China to ensure that products labeled \u201cMade in Vietnam\u201d and exported to the U.S. include sufficient local value-added processing to meet international standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars,\u201d Xi stated in his article, pointedly avoiding any direct reference to the United States. During a later meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi reiterated that the two nations should jointly \u201coppose unilateral bullying,\u201d according to reports from Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Washington\u2019s response<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to Xi\u2019s visit to Vietnam and subsequent meeting between the two top leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump commented that the discussions between China and Vietnam appeared centered on strategies that could potentially harm the United States, though he did not place any direct blame on either country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I don’t blame China; I don’t blame Vietnam,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “That’s a lovely meeting. Meeting like, trying to figure out, ‘how do we screw the United States of America?'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Trump administration official later noted that earlier this month, President Trump and Vietnam\u2019s Lam had \u201cagreed to work to reduce reciprocal tariffs and looked forward to an in-person meeting in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Xi’s trip to Malaysia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After concluding his one-day visit to Vietnam, Xi arrived at the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Xi expressed high hopes that his current state visit to Malaysia will further elevate the long-standing friendship between the two nations, marking the beginning of another \u201c50 golden years\u201d of strong bilateral ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day state visit to the Southeast Asian country after he wrapped up a two-day tour of Vietnam. #XiJinping<\/a> #XiVisit<\/a> #\u4e60\u8fd1\u5e73<\/a> @XisMoments<\/a> (Photos: Wang Zhuangfei) https:\/\/t.co\/mWTy7rzf5o<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/U0JE1K2klE<\/a><\/p>— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) April 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>