BEIJING -- His hold at home secure for another five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping now aims to cement his country's place at the heart of a new international order, dealing on equal terms with what he sees as China's nearest peer in terms of influence: the U.S.
But Xi's diplomatic prowess will be put to the test early next month when U.S. President Donald Trump visits China. The No. 1 item on the agenda will be how to handle North Korea. Trump has urged Beijing to deal with its truculent ally, but has understood that Xi had to first deal with the Communist Party's national congress.