For the 61-year-old Xiconsidered China’s most powerful leader in decadeshis marquee appearance last November as the host of a global summit has offered good clues on his future moves.
During the 2014 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Beijing, Xi met and entertained more than a dozen other leaders from countries that have been called China’s friends, enemies and — more often than not — “frenemies.”
Who’s the boss?
No “frenemy” relationship is more important — or complex — than that between the United States and China, the world’s reigning and emerging superpowers with huge bilateral trade as well as conflicting strategic goals.
“It’s difficult to find space on containers — ships are full even in normally slow seasons,” said Ben Schwall, an American buyer of lighting equipment based in southern China.
His optimism on the rebounding U.S. demand for Chinese-made goods echoes the sentiment of many analysts, who see the world’s two largest economies cooperating more on the economic and trade front.
Tensions remain high, however, over geopolitical issues ranging from alleged state-sponsored cyber attacks, to territorial disputes involving what Washington views as Beijing bullying its smaller neighbors.
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Like other great powers before it, China is facing more and more tough choices in international affairs.
Adopting the “carrot and stick” approach, Beijing now dangles cash or flexes muscles in front of various countries — and throws in a charm offensive starring its glamorous singer First Lady when needed.
As he amasses ever more power at home, a self-confident Xi has been expanding China’s influence around the world, even in regions long considered out of its reach like Africa and Latin America.
“Xi is changing China’s foreign policy, which will be much more proactive in the foreseeable future,” said Shi. “He’s very different from his predecessors — he’s obviously more hardline.”
As China prepares to usher in the Year of the Sheep, which begins on February 19 based on the lunar calendar, few expect to see President Xi take any meek steps on the global stage in 2015.
