Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia marks a pivotal moment in Beijing’s bid to outmaneuver the U.S. in Southeast Asia. With Trump-era tariffs souring Washington's trade ties, Xi aims to convince Malaysia and ASEAN that China is the region’s best long-term partner.

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated late Thursday that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has reached out about a trade deal, boosting hopes that the tensions between Washington and Beijing could cool.