Xi Jinping Courts ASEAN Centrality in Malaysia Visit as Trump’s Tariffs Shake the Region

Xi Jinping reaffirms China’s support for ASEAN centrality in Malaysia as Southeast Asia braces for the economic fallout of Trump’s latest tariff escalation.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Kuala Lumpur on April 15, 2025. Image via @anwaribrahim.

President Xi Jinping declared on Tuesday on his state visit to Malaysia that China firmly supports ASEAN unity and centrality. He pledged deeper cooperation as regional economies brace for the ripple effects of a sharp escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions.

“China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture,” Xi said in an op-ed published in Malaysian newspapers on Monday.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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