China under President Xi Jinping has proven wrong its critics in the past year with strong economic growth, leadership in combating climate change and clean energy, and implementation of its “ One Belt, One Road ” initiative that could be a trade game changer. And while there should be more momentum in the year ahead, the country could continue to see trade conflicts with the U.S., as well as potential social unrest, experts say. As China braces for the year ahead, its president is in the spotlight. “The year was great for Xi Jinping,” said Ann Lee , New York University adjunct professor of economics and finance. “He seemed to come out as the biggest winner in China, given all the things he wanted, all the power he consolidated, and the people that he wanted in the [Communist Party’s] standing committee.” Furthermore, “a lot of what President Trump said that was anti-China during the [2016 presidential] campaign didn’t come to fruition.…