As China pauses to reflect, Xi sets out his stall for a new global order

Ahead of National Day on Sunday, the mooncake sellers were setting out their stalls and shopkeepers, hairdressers and restaurant owners were sticking Chinese national flags into brackets outside their doors. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images The talk all week has been of plans and timetables, where everyone was going, who was staying in Beijing and how busy they were with all the things that had to be done before the holidays. But by Thursday afternoon, the roads were as quiet as on a Sunday morning while the pavements were full of families, couples and clusters of friends out for a stroll…