Xi Jinping Tours Southeast Asia, Advocates Free Trade and Stability

Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently on a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, emphasizing free trade and regional stability amid global economic uncertainties. After a state visit to Vietnam, where he met with key leaders and signed cooperation agreements, Xi arrived in Malaysia to discuss further trade agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He stressed that both China and Vietnam should strengthen their resolve against unilateral actions and support global free trade, positioning China as a source of stability. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the meetings, suggesting they were part of a strategy to undermine the U.S. economy. Xi's tour is also seen as a response to escalating trade tensions with the U.S., where tariffs have affected global markets. The tour will conclude with a stop in Cambodia, further solidifying China's engagement in the region.