As Washington singles out China for its biggest tariff squeeze, Beijing’s efforts to stabilise its periphery and bolster ties with the neighbours have an added urgency, according to observers.
In his address to the conference, Xi called for the “breaking [of] new ground” in China’s relations with neighbouring countries, which he said were at a “critical phase” amid global uncertainties, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
The two-day conference coincided with President Donald Trump’s decision to hike US tariffs on Chinese imports to 125 per cent – later clarified as a rise to a record 145 per cent – while pausing “reciprocal” tariffs on most of the rest of the world.
Diplomatic pundits said the timing of both the conference and Xi’s planned tour next week signalled Beijing’s growing focus on its neighbours amid rising alarm that the world’s two largest economies may be on a collision course.
Beijing has reacted defiantly in the face of Trump’s tariffs – denounced on Thursday by foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian as “hegemonic and bullying acts of exerting maximum pressure”.
