Chinese President Xi Jinping just arrived in Malaysia for high-profile state visit, with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN catching a glimpse of Xi being received by the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Kuala Lumpur international Airport.

According to fellow broadcaster CCTV, Xi expressed hope to “further deepen the traditional friendship” between China and Malaysia.

Malaysia marks the second stop of Xi's Southeast Asia tour, with him already covering Vietnam and scheduled to visit Cambodia after Malaysia.

The motive of Xi's Southeast Asia tour is simple: it is for Beijing to position itself as a stable counterweight to U.S trade protectionism and to strengthen its ties in Southeast Asia amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.

The Chinese leader also noted he would engage in “in-depth exchanges” with Prime Minister Anwar and Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim. In an interview with CCTV, President Xi said

“With joint efforts from both sides, this visit will surely yield fruitful results.”

On Wednesday, Xi is expected to attend a state banquet at the royal palace before holding formal talks with Anwar in Putrajaya. The two leaders will witness the signing of multiple bilateral agreements, Malaysia’s foreign ministry confirmed.

In an op-ed published by The Star, Xi emphasized China’s commitment to multilateralism, writing:

“China will work with Malaysia to resist the undercurrents of geopolitical confrontation and the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism... We must uphold the UN-centered international system and promote fairer global governance.”

The visit marks a continuation of strong bilateral relations—China and Malaysia celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties last year. China has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade accounting for 16.8% of Malaysia’s total global trade in 2024.

Strategic Outreach in the Region

Xi’s visit to Malaysia follows a two-day stop in Vietnam, where both nations issued a joint statement vowing to oppose unilateralism and power politics, and to defend an open, rules-based global trade order centered around the World Trade Organization.

Although the statement did not name the U.S. directly, it came against the backdrop of intensifying trade conflict. Washington has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, to which Beijing responded with retaliatory duties as high as 125%.

U.S. President Trump dismissed the regional diplomacy as a veiled move against American interests, saying Xi’s “lovely meeting” in Vietnam was meant to "figure out how to screw the United States of America."

During Xi’s Vietnam visit, both countries signed 45 cooperation agreements spanning AI, maritime patrols, supply chains, and rail infrastructure. Xi told Vietnamese President To Lam that China and Vietnam are “standing at a historical crossroads” and should “advance hand in hand.”