Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Xi is expected to call for strengthening China-ASEAN cooperation amid Beijing's intensifying trade friction with the United States.



On his trip to Southeast Asia, Xi moved from Vietnam to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The meeting with Anwar is scheduled on Wednesday.



A Malaysian media outlet carried an opinion piece by the Chinese president ahead of the meeting. Xi noted that China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years.



He said China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat unilateralism and protectionism. He apparently made the remark in reference to the US.



China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday the content of a China-Vietnam joint statement issued during Xi's visit to the country.



It said that the two countries confirmed that they both oppose unilateralism.



The statement also refers to the South China Sea, where the two countries are at odds over territorial issues. The document says the two sides have emphasized the need for better management and active resolution of sea-related differences, and for joint maintenance of peace and stability in the sea.