China’s President Xi Jinping has struck a conciliatory note on foreign policy in a speech that comes after almost two years of increasing tensions across the Asia-Pacific region.

In an address in Beijing at the weekend aimed primarily at China’s neighbours, Mr Xi spoke of “win-win co-operation”, “shared interests” and “a neighbourhood policy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness”.

While such friendly rhetoric is commonplace when Chinese leaders meet their overseas counterparts, Mr Xi’s comments belied two years of assertiveness in Beijing’s multiple disputes with countries including Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and the US. They also came just weeks after Beijing managed surprise breakthroughs with Tokyo and Washington on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.