Kala Lampur: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, along with the king of Malaysia, stated a state -traveling analysts that it aims to burn the credibility of Beijing as a trusted partner and not “Hegon”.
Xi began on a tour of South -East Asia this week, which has already taken him to Vietnam and will also include Cambodia, Beijing tried to place himself as a stable alternative to US President Donald Trump’s punitive tariff rule.
King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim welcomed Xi at a colorful ceremony at the Golden-Domed Istana Palace on Wednesday.
The Chinese leaders moved to a red carpet as they inspected an honor guard at a huge palace ground as the Malaysian royal band.
After a conversation with Raja, Xi is to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will host him for dinner in the administrative capital of Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur.
According to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, the two leaders will sign a series of bilateral agreements.
Khu Ying Hoi, an associate professor in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Malaya University, said, “It is not only about friendship, it is about regaining the regional center of gravity towards Beijing.”
He told the AFP that the journey has been “one time calculated at a time to test water for regional solidarity when American trade measures are disrupting global markets”.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been one of the most difficult hits by the US tariff, a member of the regional block, which also risk separating Washington’s friends and colleagues.
Malaysia is this year’s ASEAN chair.
A manufacturing power plant, ASEAN member Vietnam was slapped with 46 percent tariffs and Cambodia-was killed with a major manufacturer of low-cost clothing-49 percent of the western brands-49 percent of the duty.
Malaysia, the third largest economy in Southeast Asia, was killed with a lower tariff of 24 percent.
The tariff has been stopped for 90 days, but Trump has said that no country is “far from hook”.
“Regionally, Xi is likely to frame China as a partner in stability and development, not a hegman.”
He said, “At the same time, his message gives a vested warning, that is, do not let Washington’s tariff or alliance weaken their regional harmony of Asia.”
Oh EI Sun from the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia Think Tank said that Xi’s visit is “a group of friends together for warmth against the harsh weather”.
Xi said on her arrival on Tuesday that she hoped her state journey will start in another “50 Golden Years” in China-Malasia relations.
In a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Xi said, “I am confident that with our joint efforts, it will be a fruitful journey.”
China and Malaysia celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year and enjoyed strong trade relations, although Malaysia claims parts of the South China Sea, where Beijing has chosen near tight-prone sovereignty.
According to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, China has been Malaysia’s largest business partner for 16 consecutive years, with the total trade for 16.8 percent of Malaysia’s global trade last year.
In an opinion published on Tuesday in the Star newspaper in Malaysia, Xi vowed that China would work with Southeast Asian countries to fight conservationism and keep global supply chains stable.
“We must maintain multilateral trade system, keep the global industrial and supply chain stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation,” Xi said.
On Thursday, Xi will travel to Cambodia, one of China’s staunch colleagues in Southeast Asia and where Beijing has increased its influence in recent years.
