Xi Jinping will take centre stage in 2021. With Donald Trump stepping out of the spotlight and western democracies struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, China’s strongman leader is in a triumphant mood.

After taming Hong Kong, containing the health crisis and putting China on track to be the only major world economy to grow this year, Xi is preparing for a special anniversary, which he will use to further reinforce his control over the world’s most populous country and increasingly the region.