KUALA LUMPUR – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia on April 15, marking the second leg of his three-nation tour across Southeast Asia, as global markets reel from rising tensions in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict.
Welcomed personally by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Xi’s arrival was met with heightened security and light rain — a symbol, perhaps, of the stormy global economic climate his visit comes amidst.
In a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy, Xi expressed his hopes for the visit: “I aim to deepen our longstanding friendship, strengthen political trust, promote shared modernization efforts, and take China-Malaysia cooperation to new heights.”
This is Xi’s second trip to Malaysia since becoming president in 2013, and follows Prime Minister Anwar’s diplomatic visit to Beijing in late 2024. On social media, Anwar said Malaysia was honoured to host the Chinese leader, calling the visit a significant step in reinforcing bilateral relations.
Ahead of his arrival, Xi published an op-ed in Malaysian media, emphasizing the importance of upholding the UN-based international order and fostering a more equitable global governance framework. He called for global collaboration, defending multilateral trade and stable supply chains in the face of escalating economic nationalism.
The timing of the visit is critical. Just days earlier, the Trump administration enacted a 90-day pause on new reciprocal tariffs while simultaneously increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to an effective rate of 145%. Beijing has responded with a series of retaliatory measures, adding pressure to an already strained global economy.
Southeast Asian economies have also been caught in the crossfire. Before the pause, the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on countries like Cambodia (49%), Vietnam (46%), and Malaysia (24%) — drawing criticism across the region. In Vietnam, Xi decried “unilateral bullying,” a pointed jab at President Trump’s unpredictable trade policies.
After Malaysia, Xi is expected to visit Cambodia, aiming to solidify China’s influence in the region as a stabilizing partner amid growing uncertainties. His trip seeks to reframe China as a reliable power in contrast to the increasingly volatile posture of the United States.
On April 16, Xi is scheduled to meet Malaysia’s monarch, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, at Istana Negara. Later in the day, he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anwar at the Seri Perdana Complex, where both nations are expected to sign a slate of new agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at deepening cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and regional security.