Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Southeast Asian nations to uphold openness and cooperation Thursday, delivering a message of inclusivity as President Donald Trump threatens sweeping tariffs on nations across the region.

China and the Association of South-East Asian Nations have agreed to submit a pact upgrading their free trade areas to their leaders for approval in October, according to China's foreign minister Wang Yi on Saturday.

China has been a fierce critic of sweeping U.S. tariffs that Trump announced on April 2. He later delayed the implementation of most but China, which has said it will respond with its own tariffs on U.S. imports, now faces a deadline next month to negotiate a deal.

The two major powers vied to push their agendas in Asia at a time of simmering tension over a U.S. trade tariffs offensive.

The Chinese firm has reached out to potential clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Thailand about buying its Ascend 910B processors.

China urged Cambodia and Thailand to resolve their border dispute through friendly dialogue, offering to play a constructive role by upholding an "objective and fair" position, its foreign ministry said.

As China and the U.S. compete in artificial intelligence, Southeast Asia should draw from the best of both, panelists said at CNBC’s East Tech West conference.

The U.S. Secretary of State wants to bolster defense ties in the Indo-Pacific, while distrust of Trump’s commitments to the region, particularly on economic issues, runs deep.

China will sign up to a Southeast Asian treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region as soon as all documentation is ready, Malaysia's foreign minister said on Thursday.