By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - China continues to strengthen its status as the world's second superpower through frequent diplomatic tour of its top leaders this year. If it continues to do so, China might become a superpower in foreign affairs soon.

According to the Nov. 8th reports of Western sources in Beijing, such assertion is not an exaggeration considering Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomatic moves. After visiting Pakistan in late April, Xi visited Bendung, Indonesia, to attend the Asia-Africa Summit, confirming its position as a superpower that embraces the Third World countries. Then in early May, Xi visited Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, where he strengthened ties with the countries to high level. On May 9, he attended the 2015 Moscow Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, showing off its close relationship with Russia.

Chinese President's visit to the United States in September and to the Britain in October are needless to say. China showed off its powerful position in the world and it didn't sound strange when China mentioned the "new type of major power relations." His visit to Vietnam and Singapore is in the same vein. China clearly showed to the world that it does not only focus on developed countries diplomatically as the country aims to become the world's sole superpower.

Korea's President Park Geun-hye and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend the military parade held in Beijing, China, on September 3. It can be seen as the result of China's active summit diplomacy./ Source from Xinhua News Agency

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's performance cannot be overlooked either. He visited four South American countries, including Brazil, from May 18 to 26 to build its influence in the region. Li also showed his excellent capabilities when he travelled to Seoul from October 31 to November 2 to attend the Korea-China-Japan trilateral summit. Moreover, China itself showed off its strong status to the world with its military parade on September 3. The country even invited Korean President Park Geun-hye, showing off its powerful status.

China did not simply show off its enhanced status through summit diplomacy of its top leaders. It also gained some benefits. China expanded its "One Belt, One Road" project to Latin America and also founded the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This is why we can say that China now strengthened its position as the world's second superpower.