Xi heads to Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia for Southeast Asia tour as US-China trade tensions escalate

Deepening ties and presenting China as a reliable partner will likely top the agenda for Chinese President Xi Jinping, as he embarks on a high-profile five-day visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday. This is the Chinese leader’s first overseas trip of the year, coming amid its trade war with the US. As trade tensions escalate, analysts say these Southeast Asian nations could face an increasingly difficult task - balancing their relationships with the two superpowers. Olivia Siong reports from Hanoi.