‘No winners’ in a trade war, says China’s Xi, as he heads to Vietnam on charm offensive

Xi Jinping is expected to emphasise China as a reliable partner in contrast to Washington, which imposed - then suspended - punishing tariffs across the region

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, warned there would be no winners" in a trade war and that protectionism leads nowhere", as he began a three-nation trip to south-east Asia starting in Vietnam on Monday.

Xi's tour, which kicked off in Hanoi, also includes rare visits to Malaysia and Cambodia and will seek to strengthen ties with China's closest neighbours amid a trade war that has sent shock waves through global markets.