BEIJING — He cooked dumplings with families, made small talk with delivery workers and tried out riot gear with the police.

President Xi Jinping of China sought to project an image as a strong and folksy leader during a two-day tour of Beijing ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Tuesday. Facing a slowing economy at home and a trade war with the United States, he used the occasion to defend his policies, including his efforts to create jobs and the Communist Party’s increasingly tight grip on society.

Here are the highlights.

Looking Relatable