Xi portrays China as global leader as Trump era looms … China will build a "new model" of relations with the United States, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday in a speech that portrayed China as the leader of a globalized world where only international cooperation could solve the big problems. -Reuters

With Trump focusing on domestic problems, China is stepping up to become an international moderator and consensus builder.

"Trade protectionism and self-isolation will benefit no one," Xi told the United Nations in Geneva.  "Big countries should treat smaller countries as equals instead of acting as a hegemon imposing their will on others."

During his speech, Xi made an extraordinarily bold proposal, saying the world should unite on a variety of major issues supposedly tearing governments apart today, "everything from environmental protection to terrorism and nuclear disarmament."

"We will build a circle of friends across the whole world," Xi said.  "We will strive to build new model of major country relations with the United States, a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination with Russia, a partnership for peace, growth, reform and among different civilizations and a partnership of unity and cooperation with BRICS countries."

We have discussed how it seemed to us the BRICs were being set up as an adversarial power block to the West. But now China is going beyond the BRICs. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reportedly told Xi it was "very reassuring to see China assuming such a clear leadership in multilateralism in today's world."

Of course China's perspective has been contradicted by some, including civil rights  campaigners who have made negative statements about China's record.  Western governments have complained about China's domestic problems under Xi.

Others say that China's plans to expand its presence greatly in the South China sea is just more evidence of China's ongoing aggression.   China denies this.

Xi has said reportedly, "We always put people's rights and interests above everything else and we have worked hard to develop and uphold human rights. China will never seek expansion, hegemony or sphere of influence."

But this is surely contradicted by what Xi is doing. According to Reuters, his state media has announce that law enforcement and judicial officials in China "must be absolutely loyal to the ruling Communist Party."