China is actively seeking economic collaboration in Southeast Asia to counteract the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Xi Jinping's recent tour included signing agreements with Vietnam, promoting unity against unilateral actions.

Xi Jinping has urged Vietnam to resist “unilateral bullying” and uphold free and open trade, as he begins a high-stakes diplomatic tour of the region’s major export-reliant economies in a bid to position his country as a stable partner in contrast to the United States.

China's President Xi Jinping on Monday called for stronger ties with Vietnam on trade and supply chains amid disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs, as he kicked off a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.