In January 2016, with China’s equity and currency markets in turmoil, a sheepish Beijing dispatched two relatively unknown officials to the World Economic Forum in Davos. This year the star attraction will be none other than Xi Jinping, whose attendance tomorrow will mark the first time a Chinese president has attended the global gathering.

According to people involved in the preparations, discussions about Mr Xi’s visit began in May, a month before Britain voted to leave the EU. At the time, it seemed the Chinese president would be appearing just ahead of the inauguration of president Hillary Clinton.

But the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the November US presidential election have transformed Mr Xi’s turn at Davos into an unexpected opportunity. The Chinese president is expected to use his speech to enhance his status as one of the few responsible adults left standing on the global stage, committed to protecting progress made over recent years on everything from climate change to free trade. US vice-president Joe Biden and secretary of state John Kerry will also attend, days before they leave office.