Xi arrives in Malaysia to discuss bilateral cooperation
Xi is scheduled to hold a meeting with Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim to discuss bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and international issues
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia late Tuesday, state media CCTV reported, marking his second stop in Southeast Asia as he pushes to strengthen ties in the region amid tariff tensions with the US.
Xi is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and international issues, according to Malaysia's Foreign Affairs Ministry. Both leaders will also witness the exchange of memorandums of understanding, agreements and notes between the two countries.
The Chinese leader said the visit was a chance to deepen their friendship and strengthen political mutual trust, Xinhua reported, citing a written statement upon his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He called on both nations to promote cooperation in modernization efforts, enhance mutual learning, and elevate the China-Malaysia community, according to the report.
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The visit comes at a time of heightened US-Sino tensions after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Asia's largest economy but gave everyone else a 90-day pause. Xi may present China as a more stable partner even as countries in the region seek to negotiate a deal with Washington to stave off drastic duty hikes.
"Despite ongoing global trade tensions, Malaysia's trade engagement with China is expected to deepen — particularly if both countries choose to expand bilateral trade as part of a diversification strategy in response to US tariffs and a gradual shift away from reliance on the US market," said analysts at MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd in a note Tuesday.
China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009, with total trade between the two nations valued at 484.12 billion ringgit ($109.8 billion) last year, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Local officials viewed the visit as an opportunity to improve trade relations between the two countries.
Xi's trip to Kuala Lumpur follows an earlier stop in Vietnam, where he called on the country to jointly oppose "unilateral bullying" to maintain the stability of global free trade and supply chains. Southeast Asian nations have become key routes for Chinese exports to reach the US since Trump's tariff hikes on Beijing in his first term.
The Chinese leader, who last visited the country officially in 2013, will also have an audience with Malaysia's King Ibrahim Iskandar. Xi is set to depart for Cambodia on Thursday.
