Interpreting President Xi Jinping's State visit to Southeast Asia: A View from Inside

Calvin Khoe, Secretary of Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia(FPCI) and Lead Analyst, FPCI Research and Analysis

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the opinions of the institution. These views are purely personal.

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This piece discusses President Xi Jinping's recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia from April 14–18, 2025, through a Southeast Asian perspective. The trip highlights its significance for Southeast Asia and sheds light on ASEAN's relations with major global powers. In essence, President Xi leveraged the global uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian neighbors.

Three key highlights of the trips stand out and are easy to remember. First, Southeast Asia marked President Xi Jinping's first overseas visit in 2025, coinciding with a period when over 50 countries were negotiating tariffs with the United States. Second, a staggering 113 cooperation documents were signed during the four-day trip, covering areas such as trade, the digital economy, and renewable energy. Third, President Xi consistently emphasised China's commitment to offering partnerships and open markets, contrasting with the United States' increasing isolation and trade barriers.

In Vietnam, President Xi met with General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. During this visit, 45 cooperation documents were signed, focusing on trade, infrastructure, and technology. In Cambodia, President Xi met with King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Manet, resulting in 37 cooperation documents centred on health, education, and cultural exchange. Similarly, in Malaysia, President Xi met with Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The 31 MoUs signed during this visit emphasized trade, the digital economy, and renewable energy. In total, 113 MoUs were signed across the three countries.

This visit carried significance beyond trade opportunities; it held political meaning as well. The three ASEAN nations shared a common view for a world order based on rules and norms, emphasizing a rules-based system and multilateralism as the foundation for international cooperation. They stressed the importance of preserving and revitalizing multilateralism. While China cannot easily replace the trade and market losses Southeast Asian countries face from the United States, it has taken a more comprehensive approach to engage with the region, focusing on areas neglected by the U.S.

In Malaysia, President Xi proposed three key proposals of cooperation:

• Strategic Independence and Coordination: Both nations are expected to maintain independence, reject external interference, and support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and development interests. A "2+2" dialogue mechanism for diplomacy and national defence was proposed to enhance collaboration.

  
  

• High-Quality Development Cooperation: President Xi emphasized partnerships in digital, green, and blue economies, as well as artificial intelligence. He also proposed strengthening traditional cooperation, encouraging two-way investments, and enhancing Malaysia's ports as hubs in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

  
  

• Cultural and Civilizational Exchange: President Xi called for stronger people-to-people ties through tourism, education, and cultural exchanges. The reciprocal visa waiver agreement was highlighted as a step to deepen relations.

  
  

In contrast, the United States' strategic approach in the region remains uncertain. President Trump’s attendance at this year’s ASEAN Summit in Malaysia is still unconfirmed, and the alliance-based approach in Southeast Asia gives the impression of prioritizing its own interests and those of its allies. Senior ministerial U.S. visit in the region has been limited, with only Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visiting the Philippines in March 2025. Furthermore, President Trump’s decision to shut down USAID operations has damaged the U.S.'s image and influence in Southeast Asia, as well as the local communities that benefited from its programs.

This starkly different approach has weakened the United States' diplomatic influence and image, while simultaneously bolstering China’s diplomatic standing and influence. This is a clear win for China.

However, challenges still remain. The latest ASEAN People's Perceptions Survey (APPS) by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) found that 31.95% of respondents view China as the most relevant partner for the future of ASEAN and 43.93% as the most beneficial for economic growth. Yet, the trust that Southeast Asian countries place in China still requires further enhancement.

Strengthening strategic coordination on political and security issues is essential to addressing this challenge. In Beijing, the recent 2+2 meeting between Chinese and Indonesian foreign and defense ministers introduced security as the fifth pillar of the Indonesia-China bilateral partnership—a move welcomed by Jakarta, as it expands opportunities for strategic dialogue on security matters. In Malaysia, President Xi proposed establishing 2+2 meetings with Prime Minister Anwar. If implemented, this would mark China’s second such mechanism after Indonesia, making both exclusive to Southeast Asian nations.

Overall, China strikes at the right moment with the right messaging to its neighbors amid global uncertainty. Clear communication of strategic goals and visions for the world order is crucial to ensuring openness and transparency. While many believe that uncertainty is the only certainty, Chinese leadership should show its commitment with rules-based international order and build confidence among its counterparts that China will do the right thing.

Source：

Al Jazeera. 2025. "Over 50 Countries Seek US Trade Talks After Tariffs: Trump Officials." Al Jazeera, April 6, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/6/over-50-countries-seek-us-trade-talks-after-tariffs-trump-officials.

ASEAN Perceptions Survey. 2024. "2024 Data Table." ASEAN Perceptions Survey. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://www.aseanperceptionssurvey.com/2024-data-table.

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