Hectic year of trips brought acclaim and growing influence to country

China's hectic diplomatic year saw President Xi Jinping spend 42 days conducting eight trips abroad, as China's proposed economic initiatives bore fruit and resulted in ever-increasing recognition of the country's enhanced global role.

The initiatives included the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, both of which won widespread acclaim.

China's entry into the special drawing rights currency basket of the International Monetary Fund in November also reflected the growing strength and influence of the world's second-largest economy.