After his two pivotal diplomatic trips in the West, President Xi Jinping is setting his sights on Southeast Asia, where he is planning to make key visits to Vietnam and Singapore, according to a report by China Daily.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, Xi has commenced with his visit to Vietnam, the first to be made by a Chinese president in a decade, signifying an improvement in relations between the two countries.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the visit is possible due to the invitation from Nguyen Phu Trong, general-secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.
China and Vietnam have taken steps to facilitate more exchanges between high-ranking officials in recent years, indicating an improvement in overall relations, especially in the area of trade. Last September, no less than President Sang attended the 70th anniversary of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing.
In Singapore, aside from signing crucial cooperation agreements, Xi will also engage other local leaders and discuss finance, education, technology and urban management.
Wei Ling, director and researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies at China Foreign Affairs University, stated that Xi's visits will send a clear and positive signal to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the rest of the world that the country is transcending territorial claims in the South China Sea.
"Xi's visit will not only serve as a stabilizer, but more importantly as a propeller." he said. "Despite existing differences, getting closer with Vietnam is a way of demonstrating confidence to the international community."
Jia Duqiang, an expert on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, affirms Ling's observation by saying that the key visits will attempt to ease the concerns of Vietnam and Singapore, both of which hold significant influence within ASEAN.