The president’s tour, from April 14 to 18, will be focused on strengthening Beijing’s already excellent political, economic and social relations with its neighbors and takes place in the midst of an escalation of the U.S. tariff war against these nations, especially against China.

In fact, the three countries to be visited are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a bloc that has become the China’s main trading partner.

Xi Jinping called this week to strengthen and open a new chapter in regional relations.

“We should focus on building a community of shared destiny with our neighbors,” he stressed at a high-level meeting.

The conference highlighted that the countries surrounding China are critical to the Asian giant’s development, national security and global diplomacy.

In addition, the meeting highlighted that, although relations with neighboring countries are at their best since the modern era, they also face challenges stemming from profound global changes.

ef/jav/npg/idm