Chinese President Xi Jinping urges Asian nations to resist geopolitical confrontation and economic protectionism during a key visit to Malaysia, as China strengthens regional ties amid tense relations with the U.S.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Asian nations to stand united against geopolitical confrontation, unilateralism, and protectionism, during a state visit to Malaysia, part of his three-nation Southeast Asian tour that also includes Vietnam and Cambodia.
Speaking alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Xi emphasized the need for regional cooperation in the face of growing economic nationalism and global uncertainty.
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“In the face of shocks to the current international order and economic globalisation, our two nations will stand united with other countries in the region to jointly resist the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation,” Xi said.
Xi’s comments, while not naming any specific country, appeared to be a response to recent U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump, which have included sweeping tariffs, including a 145% duty on Chinese goods and 24% tariffs affecting several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia.
As part of their bilateral discussions, China and Malaysia signed 31 cooperation agreements covering areas such as trade, tourism, railway transportation, and agriculture, though no specific details were released.
Prime Minister Anwar reaffirmed China’s importance as Malaysia’s top trading partner, saying:
“At a time when multilateralism is under tremendous strain… China’s global initiatives offer a new lease on hope.”
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China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, with trade between the two nations totaling 484.1 billion ringgit ($110 billion) last year, according to Malaysia’s foreign ministry.
Xi also emphasized deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and expressed interest in connecting Malaysia’s $10 billion East Coast Rail Link with Chinese-backed rail projects in Laos and Thailand, creating a broader regional transport corridor.
In addition, Xi pledged to expand imports of high-quality Malaysian agricultural products and to explore further cooperation in cutting-edge sectors like artificial intelligence.
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He also urged ASEAN nations to jointly oppose decoupling, supply chain disruptions, and excessive tariffs, advocating instead for openness and regional solidarity.
Xi’s visit reflects China’s strategic push to consolidate alliances in Southeast Asia as tensions with the U.S. persist, particularly in trade and global governance issues.
