Xi Jinping has appealed to Vietnam to join China in upholding multilateral 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.

Imposition of new tariffs on nearly every country adds to concerns in Europe and Asia about relying on America.

Xi's U.S. counterpart, President Donald Trump, kept in place 145% tariffs on China, the world's second-largest economy.