Xi Jinping has urged Vietnam to resist “unilateral bullying” and uphold free and open 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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping began a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia on Monday, according to the South China Morning Post. He urged regional unity and free trade amid tensions with the United States.