President Xi Jinping will visit three Southeast Asian countries next week, as China steps up efforts to court partners to buffer the economy against an escalating trade war with the US.

BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia next week, his first overseas trip this year, aiming to consolidate ties with some of China's closest neighbours as trade tension escalates with the United States.

According to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry today (10 April), Xi will pay a state visit to Vietnam from 14 to 15 April, followed by stops in Malaysia and Cambodia from 15 to 18 April