NewXi Jinping’s whirlwind globetrotting heralds “new power diplomacy” - will it work?

Few Chinese leaders have been as visible on the world stage as Xi Jinping.

Xi capped a whirlwind year of globetrotting this month with an address to 150 or so leaders at the United Nations climate summit in Paris. He attended almost all the most important global summits and paid high-profile state visits to 14 major nations, taking his overall total to 37 in 33 months.

READ MORE: Q&A: President Xi Jinping’s US state visit was ‘enormous success – or as we’d say, a home run’

Through a combination of handshakes and deal-making, Xi has forged closer links with other nations near and far. It is all part of a push to boost China’s international image and status as the balance of power changes and Beijing seeks to protect its economic interests, analysts say.

It’s a major departure from the long-standing diplomatic doctrine envisioned by late leader Deng Xiaoping, who said Chinese diplomats should “keep a low profile and hide their brightness”.

Xi signalled the shift at a high-level national conference in November last year, revealing his plans for a “new diplomacy”.

It’s driven by the belief that the global order is in the midst of a historic change that might end the US’ domination of global affairs of the last few decades, leading to one shared by the West and East. This change has created an opportunity or even necessity for China to take the lead, the belief goes, and helps explain why Xi is more active and assertive than his predecessors in foreign policy and diplomacy.