Beijing to use key regional meetings to launch charm offensive on southern neighbours
Two key meetings will provide chance to push broader diplomatic goals of boosting ties with southern neighbours and countering US moves
Beijing will showcase its renewed focus on Southeast Asia and push for more trade deals during two major summits in the region, as it seeks to gain leverage in its various territorial disputes.
President Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Bali later this week during a trip that includes his first visits to Indonesia and Malaysia since becoming president in March. He arrives in Jakarta today.
Next week, a high-level Chinese delegation - led by Premier Li Keqiang - will attend the East Asia Summit in Brunei before visiting Thailand and Vietnam.
All the countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations, while Vietnam has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The visits are part of a broader effort by Beijing to bolster ties with its southern neighbours amid Washington's "pivot" towards the Asia-Pacific region.
Aside from increasing its military presence in the region, the United States has also sought to strengthen economic ties.