Xi visits Russia as China seeks bigger global role

Xi Jinping heads to Russia on Friday on his first foreign visit as president amid signs he wants China to be more assertive in challenging U.S. leadership in Asia while looking for new energy sources to fuel the Chinese economy.

Since Xi became China’s leader late last year, the country has notched up its feud with Japan over a set of disputed islands believed to sit atop petroleum reserves, while also contending with the U.S. and other Western powers at the U.N. over the conflict in Syria, Iran’s nuclear program and the growing belligerence of nominal ally North Korea.

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Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/I5TuYNMGXXg/