TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on his first overseas tour of the year next week to Vietnam, then Malaysia and Cambodia, as he seeks to tighten economic relations in Southeast Asia at a time of broken trade ties with the U.S.
Xi will be in Vietnam on Monday and Tuesday, before heading to Malaysia and Cambodia and wrapping up the trip on Friday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The trip comes after the U.S. raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%. Beijing has retaliated by slapping an 84% rate on all American goods.
