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China Briefing | Opinion: Forget the hype about leading the world, China has to get its own house in order

Media reports hyping Beijing as taking the reins of global leadership from Washington should be taken with a pinch of salt

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Chinese President Xi Jinping helps children water a sapling as he attends a tree-planting activity in Beijing. The leader has two major events in the coming weeks that are likely to raise China’s profile on the global stage. Photo: Xinhua

In the coming weeks, two major events will again focus the international spotlight on China as it projects its power on the world stage. Next week, President Xi Jinping (習近平) is expected to hold an informal summit with US President Donald Trump in Florida, the first time the two world leaders will meet face-to-face. In mid-May, Xi will host an international conference on China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative in Beijing, which is expected to draw more than 1,200 government and business leaders including about 20 heads of states or governments.

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Images of Xi meeting Trump over hot issues such as North Korea’s nuclear proliferation or Xi addressing world leaders over a signature initiative of China’s blueprint for globalisation will most likely prompt more discussions about the rise of China’s clout, and of its intention to assume the mantle of global leadership.

US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jingping in Florida next week. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jingping in Florida next week. Photo: Reuters

Is China interested – and does it have the capacity to lead? Perhaps, an even more interesting question is this: is it willing? Reading both the international and the Chinese state media gives the impression that China is itching for a go at it.

Hardly a day goes by without the international media writing about China’s growing prominence in international diplomacy and economic affairs on issues ranging from trade and investment to multilateral institutions and systems – the catchphrase being “as America retreats, China advances”.

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Such reports will not go unnoticed by Chinese state media, which is already in overdrive praising Xi’s leadership skills and bold vision as the “core” of the Chinese leadership, cherry picking the positive comments from the overseas reports to portray an international willingness to welcome China’s global leadership.

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