Xi wraps up Southeast Asia charm offensive tour, as Beijing calls for talks with Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping ended his tour of Southeast Asia on April 18, 2025, with a stop in Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in the region. Xi’s visit came amid an escalating trade war between China and the US after Washington imposed “reciprocal” tariffs on the rest of the world. US President Donald Trump has since put a 90-day pause on the levies, except for China, which has been hit with 145 per cent tariffs. The US and China have been left in an impasse over who should initiate talks.