China: Xi Jinping to Visit Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia

China seeks to strengthen Asia's political-economic alliance in opposition to Trump

Xi Jinping

On Monday, April 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping will embark on an unusual mission that will involve three Southeast Asian countries. The visit is aimed at strengthening relations with Beijing’s key regional partners amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.

At the invitation of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, the Chinese leader will be in Vietnam on April 14-15. Chinese media emphasize that this will be Xi Jinping’s first overseas trip since the beginning of the year. The Chinese president will arrive in Malaysia on Wednesday, April 16, and will conclude his program of international visits with a trip to Cambodia (April 17 and 18).

As the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported, Xi Jinping will hold talks in Hanoi with both Vietnamese leaders: To Lam and Luong Cuong. He will also meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly (unicameral parliament) Tran Thanh Manh. On the margins of the summit, Xi Jinping and the Vietnamese leadership are scheduled to sign more than 40 documents, including agreements and memoranda on cooperation in a wide range of areas.

Numerous trade and economic cooperation agreements are also expected to be signed in the next stages of the trip to Malaysia and Cambodia.