China This Week: Five things you need to know (Apr. 5-11, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor’s Notes: On China this week, we believe that Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia is important, especially after he attended a key meeting that outlined China's neighborhood diplomacy and Southeast Asia was hit hard by U.S. tariffs. We focus closely on how China is fighting back against the U.S. global tariffs war, as well as how Europe and China adjusted their high-level talks when facing pressures. China's Antarctic Expedition, featuring international participants, is also worth reading. Thank you!
1. Chinese President Xi Jinping's Visit To Southeast Asia Enhances Neighborhood Diplomacy
Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits (国事访问) to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia from April 14 to 18, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for four straight years. Together accounting for over one-fifth of the global economy, China and ASEAN serve as a vital engine for global and regional economic development, especially when the U.S.-imposed tariffs have caused turbulence and damage globally.
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2. Key Meetings Outline The Next Phase of China's Neighborhood Diplomacy
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and striving to open new ground for China's neighborhood work at the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries (中央周边工作会议), which was held in Beijing from April 8 to 9.
China always places its neighborhood diplomacy at the top of its diplomatic agenda (中国始终将周边置于外交全局首要位置). Back in October 2013, Xi put forward the principle of "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness" (亲诚惠容的周边外交理念) for China's neighborhood policy at a conference on diplomatic work with neighboring countries.
On April 10, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech at a Conference for Chiefs of Overseas Mission (驻外使节工作会议) convened by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.
Read more:
The Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries Held in Beijing Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
MFA Convenes Conference for Chiefs of Overseas Mission -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Xi calls for building community with shared future with neighboring countries -Global Times-
3. 'Fight To The End': China Hits Back In U.S.-initiated Tariff War
China on April 11 raised additional tariffs to 125 percent on all imported U.S. products, effective from April 12, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Friday, in retaliation to U.S. latest tariff threats. In just a few days, China's retaliation against the U.S. tariffs has intensified dramatically.
China has also sent a very important message that the Chinese side will pay no attention if the U.S. side subsequently continues to impose tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the U.S., given that there is no longer any possibility of market acceptance for U.S. goods exported to China under the current tariff levels. (鉴于在目前关税水平下，美国输华商品已无市场接受可能性，如果美方后续对中国输美商品继续加征关税，中方将不予理会。)
As the tariff conflicts develop rapidly, for daily updates and analysis, please follow the author's X account @shen_shiwei.
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4. China-Europe Enhanced High-Level Exchanges, Xi Meets Spanish PM and Sends Important Messages
It has been a busy week for China-Europe high-level communications. On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said there is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation when met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing.
Xi said over the past 70 years and more, China has achieved development through self-reliance and arduous struggle, never relying on others' mercies, still less fearing any unreasonable suppression. He added that no matter how the external world changes, China will remain confident and focused on running its own affairs well. 70多年来，中国发展始终靠的是自力更生、艰苦奋斗，从不靠谁的恩赐，更不畏惧任何无理打压。无论外部环境如何变化，中国都将坚定信心、保持定力，集中精力办好自己的事。
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday held a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which they discussed measures in response to Donald Trump's tariffs. China and the EU vow joint efforts to uphold the multilateral trading system when Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic held a talk via video on Tuesday.
Read more:
On-Site | Are China, U.S., and Europe strategic relations reshaping? -The China Briefing-
What signals does Spanish Prime Minister’s visit to China send? -Global Times editorial-
China's commerce minister meets EU, ASEAN officials on opposing US 'reciprocal tariffs' -Global Times-
5. China's 41st Antarctic Expedition Returns to Shanghai
China's research icebreaker Xuelong (雪龙), or Snow Dragon, returned to the Shanghai port on April 8, concluding China's 41st Antarctic expedition, which includes the construction of the Qinling research station and climate change studies. The expedition team is also a platform for international collaboration, as it consists of 44 members from nine countries, including the U.S., South Korea, and Malaysia.
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Stay tuned for more updates on China's political, economic, and cultural landscapes.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. All sources are publicly available and subject to change.
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