BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia next week, his first overseas trip this year, aiming to consolidate ties with some of China's closest neighbours as trade tension escalates with the United States.

All major powers—the U.S., China, Japan, the European Union, and India—saw an increase in trust from Southeast Asia this year. Of these, Japan remains the most trusted, and its trust level increased from 58.9% to 66.8%. The E.U. overtook the U.S. for second most trusted, while the U.S., China and India followed in that order.

With President Donald Trump back in the White House, new US leadership shot up on the list of Southeast Asia’s geopolitical concerns in an annual survey by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.