BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia next week, his first overseas trip this year, aiming to consolidate ties with some of China's closest neighbours as trade tension escalates with the United States.

President Xi Jinping will visit three Southeast Asian countries next week, as China steps up efforts to court partners to buffer the economy against an escalating trade war with the US.

Following Beijing’s latest round of tariff hikes on U.S. imports—bringing the total rate to 125%—Wendy Cutler, ASPI Vice President and Managing Director of its Washington, D.C. office, emphasized that any expectations of China backing down are now firmly off the table.