Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Malaysia as part of his Southeast Asia tour, signaling a clear message that Beijing is a more dependable trading partner than the United States amid the ongoing trade tensions with Washington.

Xi’s visit to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, marks his first trip to the country since 2013. 

He arrived from Vietnam, where he had signed numerous trade agreements covering diverse sectors, including artificial intelligence and railway development.

Upon his arrival, Xi emphasized the importance of enhancing "high-level strategic cooperation" between China and Malaysia, stating that such efforts would benefit both nations and contribute to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, as reported by the official Malaysian news agency Bernama.

This three-country tour, which highlights China's message that it is a more reliable partner than the volatile administration of US President Donald Trump, comes at a time when many countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are frustrated by the impact of the US trade war, particularly after significant tariffs were imposed on countries worldwide.

“This is a highly important visit. There’s a lot to interpret from it,” remarked Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, a former Malaysian ambassador to the U.S. and former legal affairs minister.

“China is positioning itself as a reliable trading partner, more so than the US We have never faced significant issues with China in our dealings,” Abdul Aziz told Al Jazeera. 

“Under Prime Minister Anwar, Malaysia is drawing even closer to China, which is a positive development,” he added, noting that, in the long run, the influence of Washington will likely diminish.

In contrast to the strained US-Malaysia relationship, trade and diplomatic ties with China continue to strengthen, benefiting both nations. "Our focus is very much on China; that’s the mindset we have," Abdul Aziz explained.

The U.S. imposed a 24 percent trade tariff on Malaysia, accusing the country of imposing a 47 percent tariff on U.S. imports—an allegation that Malaysian officials have denied. 

Recently, President Trump introduced a 90-day moratorium on the highest tariffs levied on various countries, reducing the tariff on goods exported to the U.S. to 10 percent, except for China, which still faces 145 percent tariffs.

Source: Al Jazeera 

BDST: 1529 HRS, April 16, 2025
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