Two major speeches were delivered by two of the world’s most powerful leaders this week, on opposite sides of the planet — Donald Trump and Li Qiang.

As President Donald Trump unleashes sweeping changes across the US government and overturns decades of American foreign policy, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is preparing to hold a major political gathering designed to project tightly-controlled stability.

China’s leaders forecast economic growth of “about 5 percent” this year despite an escalating trade war with the Trump administration that could sap demand for exports.

As Chinese leaders meet in Beijing, they are striking a confident posture despite serious challenges to the economy and growing pressure from the United States.

China and Russia “cannot be moved away” from one another, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday, in their first phone call since US President Donald Trump upended American foreign policy with a sweeping pivot toward Moscow as he pushes for peace in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has approved military reforms aimed at enhancing combat readiness and preparing the armed forces "for engaging in warfare," set to take effect in the spring. Tensions between Beijing and Washington remain high,

"China's tariffs impact a limited number of US products, and remain below the 20% level. This is by design. China's government is signalling that they do not want to escalate, they want to de-escalate," according to Even Pay, an analyst with Trivium China.

China is still cautiously trying to figure out what Trump wants. The president has threatened big tariffs in response to the inaction.

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The leaders held the talks as U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a quick deal to end the Ukraine war, raising the prospect that Washington could draw a wedge between Xi and Putin to focus on competing with the world's second largest economy.