Xi Jinping's First Overseas Foray: Objectives, Outcomes and Implications

Xi made his first overseas state visits to Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo, and attended the fifth BRICS leaders' summit shortly after becoming China's president in March 2013. The visits show Xi's confident grip on power and China's emphasis on building ties with its giant neighbour and developing countries. To some extent, this is China's response to a US rebalance in the Asia-Pacific region that appears directed at China.